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Sansum Clinic Profit Sharing Plan
The plan was established in 1973 alongside Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Clinic, Inc., the Central Coast nonprofit healthcare organization that sponsors it.
Sansum Clinic Profit Sharing Plan
The plan was established in 1973 alongside Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Clinic, Inc., the Central Coast nonprofit healthcare organization that sponsors it. As a defined contribution 401(k) plan, employer contributions are variable and tied to clinic profitability, while participants direct their own investments and can defer a portion of compensation. The plan serves a concentrated employee base of physicians and healthcare professionals in the Santa Barbara area. The plan runs a dual-track investment strategy. On one side, it allocates through a fund-of-funds structure, gaining diversified access across asset classes without building an internal manager-selection team of the scale that larger pensions deploy. On the other side, the plan directly participates in venture debt — a strategy that generates current income from lending to venture-backed companies while avoiding the equity-duration risk of pure venture capital. The geographic focus is U.S.-centric, reflecting both the sponsor's location and the domestic nature of its commitments. Specific underlying manager names and portfolio positions are not publicly disclosed. The plan held approximately $196 million in assets, according to Altss research as of 2024. That places it in the sub-$250 million band, a cohort where governance bandwidth is constrained and every allocation dollar is scrutinized. The plan operates solely from the clinic's headquarters in Santa Barbara, without additional satellite offices. There are no disclosed adjacent philanthropic vehicles, operating businesses, or peer membership groups tied directly to the plan's investment function. No recent personnel changes or strategy pivots have been publicly reported within the last 24 months. The plan's architecture is shaped by ERISA fiduciary duties rather than family-office discretion — a structural differentiator from the single-family offices that dominate Santa Barbara's private wealth landscape. As a profit-sharing plan, contributions are discretionary and tied to the sponsor's operating performance, creating a direct link between the health of the Central Coast healthcare economy and the plan's asset growth.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1973
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Santa Barbara
Corporate office
Santa Barbara, CA, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal structure of the Sansum Clinic Profit Sharing Plan?
It is a defined contribution 401(k) profit-sharing plan sponsored by Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Clinic, Inc., a nonprofit healthcare organization. As a profit-sharing plan, employer contributions are discretionary and depend on the clinic's annual profitability. Participants can defer a portion of their compensation and direct their own investments within the plan's menu.
How does the plan allocate between fund-of-funds and direct venture debt?
The plan runs two parallel sleeves. The fund-of-funds sleeve provides diversified exposure across multiple asset classes and underlying managers without requiring a large internal investment staff. The venture debt sleeve originates or participates in loans to venture-backed companies, generating current income. The exact split between the two is not publicly disclosed.
Does the plan accept outside investors or co-investors?
No. This is a single-sponsor retirement plan serving only eligible employees of Sansum Clinic and its affiliates. It does not pool capital from external institutions, individuals, or other family offices.
Is Sansum Clinic's endowment or other charitable assets part of this plan?
No. The profit-sharing plan is a retirement vehicle for employees, distinct from any charitable assets or operating reserves of Sansum Clinic. The sponsoring nonprofit's broader financial structure — including any potential foundation or endowment — is not commingled with plan assets and falls under separate governance.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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