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Greater Washington Community Foundation

EIN 23-7343119 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GREATER WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IGNITES THE POWER OF PHILANTHROPY TO RESPOND TO CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS AND BUILD A THRIVING REGION WHERE EVERY PERSON PROSPERS. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HELPS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE THROUGHOUT THIS REGION AND BEYOND. AS THE REGION'S LARGEST LOCAL FUNDER, WE PARTNER ON A WIDE RANGE OF IMPACT FUNDS, PROGRAMS, AND INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.

Income
$123.2 million
Spending
$130.1 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
43.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
43
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$431,192, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 March 31, 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 (3)
  1. $117.1 million spent. ADMINISTRATION OF CHARITABLE GIVING VEHICLES DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE PHILANTHROPIC INTENT OF INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS AND GROUPS VIA DONOR ADVISED, FIELD OF INTEREST, DESIGNATED OR OTHER FUND TYPES. ADMINISTRATION CONSISTS OF GIFT RECEIPT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, INVESTMENT OF FUND ASSETS, PROCESSING, AND DISBURSING GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ENTITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS OF EACH FUND AS WELL AS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS. THE GREATER WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CURRENTLY PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO OVER 750 FUNDS.
  2. $3.7 million spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS - THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SELECTIVELY EXTENDS ITS NONPROFIT STATUS TO GROUPS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE A PHILANTHROPIC MISSION BUT HAVE EITHER NOT RECEIVED SEPARATE EXEMPT STATUS FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE YET OR ARE ORGANIZED FOR A LIMITED DURATION OR PURPOSE. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUPPLIES THE SAME ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AS THOSE LISTED IN #1 ABOVE. IN ADDITION THE FOUNDATION EXERCISES EXPENDITURE CONTROL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL DISBURSEMENTS MADE BY THESE FUND TYPES.
  3. $1.3 million spent. INTERNAL PROGRAM INITIATIVES - PROGRAM INITIATIVES ARE DISCRETIONARY ACTIVITIES OF THE GREATER WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC AREAS OF NEED WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA OF THE GREATER WASHINGTON REGION. PROGRAM INITIATIVES OF THE CURRENT REPORTING PERIOD INCLUDE PARTNERSHIP TO END HOMELESSNESS, HEALTH EQUITY FUND, AND VOICES DMV. THE PARTNERSHIP TO END HOMELESSNESS BRINGS TOGETHER THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO ENSURE HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NON-RECURRING. BY JOINING ACROSS SECTORS, PTEH WORKS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOLSTER THE RESPONSE SYSTEM TO HELP MORE PEOPLE OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING, AND ULTIMATELY END HOMELESSNESS IN DC. VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY: DC, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA (VOICESDMV) IS A COMMUNITY LISTENING AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE CONDUCTED EVERY THREE YEARS TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON REGION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 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 March 2025.

    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 January 1974.

    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.

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