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The California 4-H Foundation

EIN 23-7327765 · Davis, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE CALIFORNIA 4-H FOUNDATION IS TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPACT OF LOCAL 4-H EFFORTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA BY RAISING FUNDS FOR ACTIVITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM STATEWIDE, AND IN COUNTIES AND CITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ENGAGES YOUTH IN REACHING THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL WHILE ADVANCING THE FIELD OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
19.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
12

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

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

  • 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. $1.1 million spent. THE FOUNDATION RAISES PRIVATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT, STRENGTHEN, AND GROW THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFERED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. THE FOUNDATION ALSO WORKS WITH 4-H STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO STRENGTHEN FUNDRAISING CAPACITY STATEWIDE AND IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE IN FUNDRAISING AND FUND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES MARKETING SUPPORT TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF 4-H PROGRAMING AND THE IMPACTS ACHIEVED BY 4-H FOR INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA. THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN REACHING THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL WHILE ADVANCING THE FIELD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. APPROXIMATELY 75,000 YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 TO 19 SUPPORTED BY OVER 7,800 TEEN AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN 4-H THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING CLUB-BASED PROJECTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES, CAMPS, CONFERENCES, AND SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. ALL 4-H PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE LARGE AND DIVERSE CORPS OF ARTICULATE AND COMPASSIONATE YOUNG LEADERS GROUNDED IN RESEARCH-BASED KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR WORLD TODAY, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER USAGE, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, FOOD SAFETY, AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 4-H DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS IN ITS PARTICIPANTS AT EVERY LEVEL FROM THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE TO THE TEENS AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT THEM. THE FOCUS OF ALL 4-H PROGRAMS IS POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACTIVITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH, HEALTHY LIVING, AND CITIZENSHIP. 4-H PROGRAMS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY A COMBINATION OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: -PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO PRACTICE LEADERSHIP BY BEING A LEADER IN A VARIETY OF CONTEXTS AND SETTINGS; -PROMOTING POSITIVE YOUTH-ADULT PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOSTER SHARED DECISION MAKING; -LEARNING-BY-DOING THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE INQUIRY AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING; AND -PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO ONE'S SELF, COMMUNITY, AND THE WORLD. THE FOUNDATION RAISES PRIVATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT, STRENGTHEN, AND GROW THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFERED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. THE FOUNDATION ALSO WORKS WITH 4-H STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO STRENGTHEN FUNDRAISING CAPACITY STATEWIDE AND IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE IN FUNDRAISING AND FUND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES MARKETING SUPPORT TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF 4-H PROGRAMING AND THE IMPACTS ACHIEVED BY 4-H FOR INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA. THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN REACHING THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL WHILE ADVANCING THE FIELD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. APPROXIMATELY 75,000 YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 TO 19 SUPPORTED BY OVER 7,800 TEEN AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN 4-H THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING CLUB-BASED PROJECTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES, CAMPS, CONFERENCES, AND SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. ALL 4-H PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE LARGE AND DIVERSE CORPS OF ARTICULATE AND COMPASSIONATE YOUNG LEADERS GROUNDED IN RESEARCH-BASED KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR WORLD TODAY, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER USAGE, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, FOOD SAFETY, AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 4-H DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS IN ITS PARTICIPANTS AT EVERY LEVEL FROM THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE TO THE TEENS AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT THEM. THE FOCUS OF ALL 4-H PROGRAMS IS POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACTIVITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH, HEALTHY LIVING, AND CITIZENSHIP. 4-H PROGRAMS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY A COMBINATION OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: -PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO PRACTICE LEADERSHIP BY BEING A LEADER IN A VARIETY OF CONTEXTS AND SETTINGS; -PROMOTING POSITIVE YOUTH-ADULT PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOSTER SHARED DECISION MAKING; -LEARNING-BY-DOING THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE INQUIRY AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING; AND -PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO ONE'S SELF, COMMUNITY, AND THE WORLD.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 January 2012.

    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.

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.