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STORYTELLER CHILDRENS CENTER INC

EIN 77-0283072 SANTA BARBARA, CA

Revenue 2024
$2,727,508
Expenses 2024
$3,045,159

Program services were 76.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
Z99Z
Classification
1000
Street
2115 STATE ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Storyteller Childrens Center is a non-profit organization that provides high quality early childhood education for homeless and at risk children, as well as comprehensive support services for their families. These families fall well below the poverty guidelines and are living in shelters, cars or in multiple family environments, and nearly half of Storyteller children have special needs due to their traumatic early life experiences. Storytellers three-pronged approach to school readiness involves the parents, the teachers and the child. Our goals are for children to be prepared to enter Kindergarten ready to learn, their families able to support their childs learning and development, and that our teachers are trained as best in class and able to be effective therapeutic educators. Our seamless integration of all day services includes early childhood education, therapeutic counseling, 2.5 healthy meals a day, and medical screenings for our children; parent educations classes, home visit

  • Comprehensive Developmental Screenings: Completed developmental and social-emotional screenings for 148 students, ensuring early identification of needs and successful referrals to partner agencies for additional support.High Environmental Quality: Maintained high environmental quality in classrooms, with ECERS/ITERS assessments yielding an average score of 6.5 across infant and toddler classrooms, reflecting strong care routines and safe, stimulating environments for children.Strengthened Instructional Support: Achieved an 86% score in Instructional Support on CLASS assessments, demonstrating effective practices in concept development and positive interactions that enhance childrens learning experiences.Positive Parent Feedback: Gained a 95% response rate in parent surveys, with 100% of families expressing satisfaction with program quality, indicating strong trust and appreciation for the services provided.Increased Family Engagement: Improved communication with families through the intentional use of the Learning Genie app, fostering greater parental involvement in children's daily activities and learning.Professional Development: Provided staff with targeted training sessions focused on understanding and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), helping educators cultivate resilience and empathetic caregiving strategies.Data-Driven Decision Making: Initiated a structured approach to data usage for goal-setting and program direction, ensuring that outcomes from assessments inform future practices and strategies.Enhanced Classroom Environments: Responded to CLASS assessment feedback by implementing strategies to display childrens artwork and writing, and introduced multicultural materials into the classroom setting.Reflective Practice Initiatives: Fostered a culture of reflective practice through staff training, significantly enhancing educators ability to support diverse learning needs and improve educational outcomes.Collaboration with Community Agencies: Strengthened partnerships with community services, facilitating a holistic approach to child development that integrates educational, emotional, and familial support.Goals for the Storyteller Program in the 2025-2026 School YearMaintain High ECERS/ITERS Scores: Aim to enhance environmental quality further by striving for an average ECERS/ITERS score of 7.0 across all classrooms (Infants and toddler classrooms only). Improve CLASS Scores in Key Areas: Continue to build in strategies with staff around Instructional Support and Emotional Support on the CLASS assessments by implementing targeted strategies identified in feedback.Enhance Parent Engagement Programs: Increase parent participation in school events and initiatives through new outreach strategies and offerings tailored to family interests and schedules.Utilize Data for Program Improvement: Establish a bi-annual review process for data collected from evaluations and assessments, with actionable goals developed based on findings.Incorporate Multicultural Resources: Integrate at least five new multicultural resources or materials into the classroom within the first semester to reflect the diversity of the student body.Focus on Social-Emotional and Mental Health Training: Provide at least two trainings focusing on mental health and wellness for staff, enabling educators to better support children who are dealing with adversity.Launch Family Support Workshops (THRIVE Program): Implement at least three family support workshops throughout the year to further educate parents about child development and how to engage in their childs learning journey.Increase Staff Retention Rates: Enhance professional development opportunities and foster a supportive work environment to achieve a higher staff retention rate.Document and Share Success Stories: Regularly document and share success stories and impactful outcomes from programs with staff, parents, and the community to highlight the benefits of the Storyteller Program and encourage continued support.By focusing on these goals, the Storyteller Program can continue to strengthen its impact on children's development, family engagement, and community collaboration in the coming school year.

    Expenses $2,315,802 · Revenue $98,613

As filed on the 2024 return.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Gabriella Garcia

    Executive Director

    Total calculated
    $173,218
    From this org
    $161,716
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,502
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $160,000
    Bonus
    $1,716
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $5,008
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,494
    Filer's total
    $173,218
  • Erinn Lynch

    Co-Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Peggy Dodds MD

    Co-Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael Wasserman

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Craig A Zimmerman

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rachael Stein

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gretchen Horn

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jon Clark

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sharon Kayser

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Anna Kokotovic

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Diana P Lytel

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Danna McGrew

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Patricia Madrigal

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ann Pieramici

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ken Radtkey

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kyra Rogers

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kenny Slaught

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $2,727,508
    Expenses
    $3,045,159
    Contributions
    $2,362,344
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $2,741,822
    Expenses
    $2,951,097
    Contributions
    $2,231,837
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $2,741,531
    Expenses
    $2,127,207
    Contributions
    $2,678,136
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,291,999
    Expenses
    $1,921,731
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,709,143
  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,679,317
    Expenses
    $1,566,889
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,608,189
  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,822,718
    Expenses
    $1,604,904
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,349,205
  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,102,126
    Expenses
    $1,606,338
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,890,206
  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,824,617
    Expenses
    $1,627,102
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,266,089
  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,584,845
    Expenses
    $1,611,343
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,098,858
  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,584,845
    Expenses
    $1,611,343
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,098,858
  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,550,895
    Expenses
    $1,580,876
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,117,387
  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,229,500
    Expenses
    $1,680,227
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,174,735
  • 2011 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $1,543,201
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,275,973

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.