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Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities

EIN 20-5267886 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ESTABLISH AND DEVELOP THE TEXAS CLEAN ENERGY PARK AS THE PREEMINENT COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, COMMERCIALIZATION AND TRAINING IN THE AREAS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, EFFICIENCY, SMART BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

Income
$251,442
Spending
$232,465
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$180,000, key employee

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $225,431 spent. TEXAS CLEAN ENERGY PARK - THE TEXAS FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATIVE COMMUNITIES (TFIC), THROUGH RESEARCH, AND AN EXTENSIVE SERIES OF MEETINGS IWTHTHE REGION'S COMMUNITY, UTILITY, BUSINESS AND EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, CONCLUDED THAT THE FASTEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEVELOP THE ORGANIZATION'S VISION OF A CLEAN ENERGY PARK WOULD BE THROUGH WINNING THE SUPPORT, COLLABORATION AND PRESENCE OF THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY (NREL).
  2. GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE - TFIC IS HELPING DIRECT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL APPROACH TO CLEAN ENERGY TRAINING, BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND INDUSTRY INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVE, AND LEVERAGING THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND TRAIN
  3. GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE - TFIC IS HELPING DIRECT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL APPROACH TO CLEAN ENERGY TRAINING, BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND INDUSTRY INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVE, AND LEVERAGING THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND TRAIN

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 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 October 21, 2026.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Communities Foundation of Texas (Dallas, TX), EIN 75-0964565. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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