Sierra College Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AT SIERRA JOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT. RAISE FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 43.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 52
- Highest pay
- $479,928, district president/superintendent
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 43.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 19 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $1.1 million spent. THE SIERRA COLLEGE FOUNDATION PROVIDES MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST AND INVEST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SIERRA JOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS. IN CONCERT WITH THE COLLEGE AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES, THE FOUNDATION COMMITS ITSELF TO WORK TOWARD EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE BY IDENTIFYING DONOR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ENRICHED BY DIVERSITY, WHICH PROMOTES PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS, LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, RESPONSIBILITY, AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: THE GUARDIAN SCHOLAR PROGRAM OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO EMANCIPATED YOUTH ATTENDING SIERRA JOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO ENSURE THEIR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. SIERRA COLLEGE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT SIERRA JOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF INNOVATION AND EXPERIMENTATION WITH A GOAL OF IMPROVING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY. SIERRA COLLEGE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS TO OFFER FINANCIAL AID TO VETERANS ATTENDING SIERRA JOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, IN THE FORM OF BOOK VOUCHERS, GAS CARDS, EMERGENCY FUNDS, ETC. SIERRA COLLEGE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH ONE-TIME EMERGENCIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO STAY IN SCHOOL, I.E. TEMPORARY LODGING, HEALTH CARE, CAR REPAIRS, BOOK VOUCHERS, GAS MONEY, ETC. SIERRA COLLEGE FOUNDATION OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY, WHICH BENEFIT NUMEROUS SIERRA JOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS.
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 October 13, 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 October 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.