Wegoja Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE WEGOJA FOUNDATION IDENTIFIES, DOCUMENTS AND PROMOTES AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
- Income
- $376,058
- Spending
- $543,308
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $78,000, executive director
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
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 173% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $23,025 spent. WITH A GRANT FROM THE SC ARTS COMMISSION, THE WEGOJA FOUNDATION OFFERED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TO HELP THEM DISCOVER WAYS TO INCORPORATE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, THROUGH ART, IN THEIR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. THE PROGRAM OFFERED SIX WEBINARS AND FIELD STUDIES. HTTPS://WWW.WEGOJA.ORG/INITIATIVES/THE-CONFLUENCE.
- $92,158 spent. MELLON FOUNDATION: TO BUILD ITS CAPACITY, ESTABLISH AN EFFECTIVE FUNDRAISING STRUCTURE FOR SUSTAINABILITY, AND TO DEVELOP A PRESERVATION TOOLKIT.
- $53,918 spent. ROSENWALD SCHOOLS STUDY: THE WEGOJA FOUNDATION IS WORKING WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE TO STUDY SITES UPON WHICH AN EXTANT ROSENWALD SCHOOL SITS, TO EXAMINE THE PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURES' INTEGRITY AND OWNERSHIP. THE GOAL IS TO DETERMINE WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO CONVERT THESE HISTORIC STRUCTURES INTO AN OFFICIAL STATE PARK TRAIL. THE PROJECT HONORS PHILANTHROPIST JULIUS ROSENWALD, WHO DONATED FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORMAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE RURAL SOUTH AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY. NEARLY 500 WERE BUILT IN SOUTH CAROLINA. ROSENWALD'S SUPPORT, ALONG WITH THE ONE-ROOM, TWO-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE BLUEPRINTS DESIGNED BY BOOKER T. WASHINGTON'S TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE, CREATED THE "BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING" AT THE TIME. THEY ALSO CREATED WHAT MOST HISTORIANS CALL THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS DURING THE ERA OF SEGREGATION. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ALSO HAS ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL ROSENWALD TRAIL.
- $20,000 spent. ORAL HISTORY: THE WEGOJA FOUNDATION COLLABORATES WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE TO RECORD, PRESERVE, AND SHARE THE MEMORIES AND INTERVIEWS OF DESCENDANTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES CONNECTED TO HISTORIC SITES AND CULTURAL LANDMARKS.
- $328,770 spent. VARIOUS PROGRAMS (ALL OTHERS)
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 December 2009.
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 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.