Financial Assistance

SBMS Financial Assistance
Thank you for your interest in the SBMS Financial Assistance Program. As a non-profit organization, we believe providing year-round access to swimming instruction and training to the Santa Barbara community is essential. The purpose of the Financial Assistance Program is to help SBMS provide equitable access to swimming instruction and training for residents of Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities. We encourage all who need assistance to apply.

Please email admin@sbmasters.org if you have questions.

SBMS Financial Assistance Program Policy and Procedure
The Financial Assistance Program awards a fifty percent or seventy-five percent reduction in program fees for qualifying Santa Barbara County applicants based on median income data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. 

  • Financial Assistance awards of 50% or 75% of the program cost based on income level and residency.
  • Financial Assistance includes the waiving of the $25 SBMS new member activation fee. All swimmers must hold a current U.S. Masters Swimming membership before they can join SBMS.
  • Financial Assistance is valid for one year and is processed or renewed every year on October 1st.
  • Financial Assistance applications made before or after the October 1st deadline will be prorated.
  • Financial Assistance cannot be retroactively applied.

Necessary Documentation
SBMS will accept the following financial documents to process the Financial Assistance application: 

  1. Signed copy of most recent Federal Tax Returns (first 2 pages only) with name(s) of dependent(s) listed as needed.
  2. Contact information that must include: Full legal name, resident address, email, and phone number. 

Application Process

  1. Email the required documentation to admin@sbmasters.org or mail hard copy information via United States Postal Service to: Santa Barbara Masters Swimming, PO Box 961, Santa Barbara CA, 93102.
  2. Allow up to 10 business days for the application to be reviewed. Financial Assistance decisions will be emailed to the applicant and must be redeemed within 60 days of being awarded.
  3. Awarded applicants then follow the four-step instructions on HOW TO JOIN SBMS.
Criteria-see table below for income level categories -
  1. A 50% reduction of the program cost based on income will be awarded to those applicants falling in the “Low Income” and “Very Low Income” categories from the attached table containing the data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development section 6932 – 2023 Income Limits.
  2. A 75% reduction of the program cost based on income will be awarded to those applicants falling in the “Extremely Low Income” and “Acutely Low Income” from the attached table containing the data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development section 6932 – 2023 Income Limits.