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Build San Diego Foundation

EIN 20-1800690 · Lakeside, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILD SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PURSUING CAREERS IN ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, GENERAL CONTRACTING, AND OTHER DISCIPLINES.

Income
$86,287
Spending
$90,025
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
88.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$50,608, executive director (as of july '25

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 88.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 122% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    45% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $40,943 spent. BUILD SAN DIEGO OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PURSUING CAREERS IN ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, GENERAL CONTRACTING, AND OTHER DISCIPLINES AND PROVIDES MENTORING PROGRAMS TO SMALL AND EMERGING BUSINESSES TO HELP FOSTER THEIR SUCCESS IN THE INDUSTRY. BUILD SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO 6 INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THEM PURSUE CAREERS IN ENGINEERING AND GENERAL CONTRACTING. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO DEVELOPS PROGRAMS FOR PROFESSIONALS IN RELATED INDUSTRIES TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE PROFESSION. BUILD CONDUCTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES AND PROMOTES CONSTRUCTION CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS BY SPONSORING CONSTRUCTION RELATED FIELD TRIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: U C San Diego Foundation (La Jolla, CA), EIN 95-2872494. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.