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Cotton Charitable Foundation

EIN 20-8229692 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak38 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COTTON FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING HOPE TO CHILDREN AND INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER LIFE-CHANGING CHALLENGES.

Income
$288,704
Spending
$115,965
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
30

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 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

    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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $7,500 spent. PROVIDED SUPPORT TO AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY TO ASSIST IN THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND PATIENT SUPPORT TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT, DETECT, TREAT, AND SURVIVE CANCER.
  2. $3,500 spent. PROVIDED SUPPORT TO SECOND MOUNTAIN MINISTRIES TO FURTHER THEIR MISSION TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE, MARGINALIZED OR DISENFRANCHISED IN THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH RESCUE, RELIEF, RESTORATION, AND DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $6,676 spent. PROVIDED CHILDREN SHOES TO THE CHILDREN LIKE LONI ORGANIZATION TO USE IN THEIR 2024 BACK TO SCHOOL KICKOFF EVENT. THIS ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND THOSE FACING ADVERSITY, ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AROUND HOUSTON.
  4. $75,991 spent. GIFTS AND ASSISTANCE DEDICATED TO THE ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES IN THE RECOVERY FROM DISASTERS AND THE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION.

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 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 2024.

    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 June 2007.

    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: Fiduciary Charitable Foundation (Boston, MA), EIN 04-6649138. 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.