Santa Barbara City College moved its Board of Trustees to investigate the handling of a $20 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott after trustees disclosed roughly $10.5 million had been spent without formal board approval. The SBCC Foundation’s CEO told media the funds largely supported the college’s Promise Program — tuition and materials for about 1,800 students — but said proper authorization steps were not followed. Trustees have placed the item on their Feb. 19, 2026 meeting agenda for public comment and initial discussion. The case raises questions about how trust‑based philanthropy interacts with public college governance, internal controls, and foundation‑college relationships; campus leaders and development officers will be watching for any governance clarifications or policy changes.