Common Fund for Non-Profit Organizations
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $288.7 million
- Spending
- $40.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 89%
- Employees
- 72
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $3.9 million, trustee (ex-officio)
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 86% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 66% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $40.1 million spent. THE COMMON FUND FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ("COMMONFUND") IS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(F) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), FORMED TO ENABLE COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TO JOIN TOGETHER IN OBTAINING PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THEIR ENDOWMENTS AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENT FUNDS. PURSUANT TO SECTION 501(F) OF THE CODE, COMMONFUND IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED SOLELY TO HOLD, COMMINGLE, AND COLLECTIVELY INVEST AND REINVEST THE MONEY CONTRIBUTED BY ITS MEMBER SCHOOLS IN STOCKS AND SECURITIES TO COLLECT INCOME THEREFROM AND TO TURN OVER THE ENTIRE AMOUNT THEREOF, LESS EXPENSES, TO ITS MEMBER SCHOOLS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.
California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of June 30, 2001. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.
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.