Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lakeshore Community Foundation Inc

EIN 27-0978059 · Manitowoc, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION STATEMENT: TO GATHER, GROW, AND GIVE ENDOWED CHARITABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO BUILD STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.VALUE STATEMENT:WE ARE COMMITTED TO MANAGING OUR CLIENTS' PHILANTHROPIC ENDOWMENTS IN PERPETUITY, WITH A FOCUS ON MINIMIZING COSTS AND FEES TO MAXIMIZE THEIR IMPACT ON THE GRANTEES THEY CARE ABOUT MOST. OUR PRIORITY REMAINS SOLELY ON SUPPORTING OUR CLIENTS' CHARITABLE GOALS, THEREBY STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE LAKESHORE AREA AND BEYOND.

Income
$26.5 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
4
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$199,734, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 86% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 December 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 (1)
  1. $3.3 million spent. LAKESHORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC. IS A TAX EXEMPT PUBLIC CHARITY ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE AND MANAGE ENDOWMENT FUNDS PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF SHEBOYGAN AND MANITOWOC COUNTIES. THE FOUNDATION RECEIVES, ADMINISTERS, AND DISTRIBUTES GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE LONG TERM BENEFIT OF THE COUNTIES IT SERVES. DURING 2025, THE FOUNDATION ADDED SIX NEW FUNDS TO ITS PORTFOLIO FOR A TOTAL OF 111 FUNDS WITH AN AGGREGATE MARKET VALUE OF $150.5 MILLION AT YEAR END. AVERAGE FUND SIZE WAS $1.4 MILLION. DURING 2025, GROWTH IN GIFTS TO NEW AND EXISTING FUNDS WAS $21.7 MILLION. THE FOUNDATION ISSUED 349 GRANTS DURING 2025 TOTALING $4.3 MILLION. SINCE THE FIRST FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN MAY 2011, THE FOUNDATION HAS DISTRIBUTED $29.2 MILLION IN GRANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 May 2010.

    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.