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Passes our checks

Waukee Foundation Inc

EIN 20-4379180 · Waukee, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION WAS FOUNDED TO PRESERVE AND GROW A HEALTHY WAUKEE COMMUNITY. WE DO THAT BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO AGENCIES AND PROJECTS THAT MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WAUKEE AREA AND FOCUS ON THE KEYS TO GOOD LIVING. OUR AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE: COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES, HEALTHY LIVING, PUBLIC ART, PARKS & RECREATION, ALL-INCLUSIVE AREAS, TRAILS, AND SOCIAL SERVICES. WE ARE AN ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER RUN ORGANIZATION, WITH LOW NON-PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSE NEEDS. DONATIONS TO THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AND LASTING IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$41,582
Spending
$11,256
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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. $7,901 spent. PREVIOUS PROJECTS:--ALL-INCLUSIVE AREAS PROJECT--THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION RAISED FUNDS TO ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MIRACLE LEAGUE BALL PARK, INCLUSIVE LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES EPIC PLAYGROUND, AND ADA COMPLIANT FISHING PIER IN DALLAS COUNTY. MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELDS OPERATE AT CAPACITY OF ROUGHLY 250 CHILDREN IN LEAGUES. GIVEN THE IDENTIFIED SPECIAL NEEDS LOCAL POPULATION OF ALMOST 1,200 CHILDREN, THE NEED FOR THIS FACILITY IS VERY REAL. A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS DOES NOT OUTGROW THE NEEDS; THEY BECOME ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THERE ARE AT LEAST AS MANY ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH SPCECIAL NEEDS AS THERE ARE CHILDREN, AND THIS COMPLEX WILL PROVIDE ADULT LEAGUES ACCESS AS WELL AS OTHER SPECIAL USES FOR THE FIELD. AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELD AS WELL. THIS PLAYGROUND OFFERS ADA COMPLIANT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS THE SOFT SURFACE NEEDED TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND OTHERS ENJOYING THE FACILITY IN THE EVENT OF A FALL. ANYONE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES IS ABLE TO ENJOY THE PLAYGROUND, EVEN ROLLING A WHEELCHAIR ONTO SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE GOAL OF THE PLAYGROUND IS TO HAVE EVERYONE BE ABLE TO PLAY TOGETHER, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITIES.AN ADA COMPLIANT FISHING PIER IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT, AND IS LOCATED NEAR THE PLAYGROUND AND MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELD. IT IS BUILT ON A 14-ACRE POND, STOCKED BY THE DNR, AND IS ALSO A BIG DRAW AND HELPS TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVENESS AS WELL. THE FISHING PIER ALLOWS ANYONE IN A WHEELCHAIR OR SCOOTER TO PULL RIGHT UP AND FISH. THERE ARE ALSO ADA COMPLIANT RESTROOMS AND PARKING LOCATED WITH THESE THREE FACILITIES.THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION RAISED THE FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECTS. UPON COMPLETION, THE CITY OF WAUKEE TOOK OWNERSHIP AND OPERATIONS OF THE FACILITIES WITHIN THE WAUKEE PARKS & RECREATION, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LONG-TERM ONGOING UPKEEP AND PROGRAMS. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PROJECT'S LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE ALL INCLUSIVE AREAS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN JULY 2022 AS "TRIUMPH PARK"--WAUKEE RAILROAD PERGOLA "IN THE SHADOW OF THE RAILS"--The Waukee Betterment Foundation raised $1.1 million for the creation and installation of the Waukee Railroad Pergola In the Shadow of the Rails. Each summer, thousands of biking and trail users visit THE public art installation at the Raccoon River Valley Trailhead located in Waukee. The community gathering place, which opened in 2018, was designed by David Dahlquist and RDG Planning & Design and features red and white columns to visually echo former railway signage. The project celebrates the railroad history of Waukee, and features LED lights to make nighttime riding enjoyable.CURRENT/ONGOING:--LONG-TERM ENDOWMENT--THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS AND AWARDS TO ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS WAUKEE AND DALLAS COUNTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.