Lead-Chs Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAMBER, THE CHARLESTON CHAMBER FOUNDATION ADVANCES THE CHARLESTON REGION'S COMMUNITY THROUGH KEY INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS OUR CRITICAL CHALLENGES. THE FOUNDATION IS ALIGNED TO MAXIMIZE OUR COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION SET OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOCUSED TO STRENGTHEN THE CHARLESTON REGION AS A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE METRO. A PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE FOUNDATION'S WORK IS DELIVERED IN ITS EFFORTS IN TALENT PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING ATTAINABILITY.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 79%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $417,484, board director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 69% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 69% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $3.5 million spent. COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT:LEADERSHIP | TALENT | DE&IPEOPLE ARE CORE TO OUR REGION'S PROSPERITY. THE CHAMBER'S COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT TEAM CULTIVATES LEADERS TO STEP INTO OUR COMMUNITY'S GREATEST CHALLENGES AND WORKS ALONGSIDE OUR REGION'S EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATORS TO BUILD AND DEVELOP OUR WORKFORCE. OUR EFFORTS ARE ALL CENTERED AROUND ENSURING ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR ALL.OUR REGION IS FILLED WITH BRIGHT LEADERS WHO WANT TO CREATE CHANGE AND MAKE OUR REGION THE BEST IT CAN BE. THROUGH OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS AND TALENT INITIATIVES, WE ARE FUELING LEADERS WITH THE INFORMATION, ACCESS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ADVANCE OUR REGION. WE USE A REGIONAL AND INCLUSIVE APPROACH, BECAUSE WE ARE BETTER AND STRONGER TOGETHER. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTFOR OUR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESSES TO PROSPER, WE NEED EMPOWERED LEADERS TO DRIVE SOLUTIONS AND CREATE CHANGE. WE CULTIVATE AND EQUIP LEADERS WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY. THE CHAMBER OFFERS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANY STAGE OF YOUR CAREER. WHETHER YOU ARE A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OR SEASONED EXECUTIVE, OUR PROGRAMS WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL.THROUGH COMMUNITY AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, OUR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS AIM TO PROVIDE THE REGION WITH AN ONGOING SOURCE OF LEADERS THAT ARE PREPARED AND COMMITTED TO SERVE AS CATALYSTS OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR REGION.CHARLESTON YOUNG PROFESSIONALSWHERE EMERGING LEADERS CONNECTCHARLESTON YOUNG PROFESSIONALS (CYP) WAS CREATED AS AN ARM OF THE CHAMBER TO ATTRACT, RETAIN AND DEVELOP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE CHARLESTON REGION. CYP IS A 1000+ MEMBER-STRONG ORGANIZATION THAT IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS AN ACTION-ORIENTED POWERHOUSE OF THE REGION'S UP AND COMING YOUNG LEADERS.TALENTGROWING OUR REGION'S TALENT PIPELINEA REGION THRIVES WHEN ITS PEOPLE HAVE THE WORKFORCE SKILLS THAT MATCH THE NEEDS OF ITS EMPLOYERS. THE CHAMBER'S TALENT TEAM SERVES AS A REGIONAL CONVENER, CREATING BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH COLLABORATIVE AND EQUITABLE INITIATIVES. EMPLOYER-LED NEEDS ASSESSMENTS GUIDE OUR EFFORTS TO CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS, EDUCATE ON BEST PRACTICES AND DEVELOP OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE EMPLOYEES. OUR COUNTRY IS CURRENTLY FACING A TALENT CRISIS AND EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BOTH RECRUIT AND RETAIN THEIR WORKFORCE. THE CHAMBER SERVES AS A THOUGHT LEADER IN BRINGING OUR MEMBERS THE LATEST TRENDS, RESOURCES AND DATA TO INFORM YOUR TALENT DECISIONS.DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIONCREATING EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALLTHE CHAMBER IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A REGION WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE, LEARN AND EARN. DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCES THRIVE, FOSTERING CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND LOYALTY. ADDRESSING DISPARITIES AND BUILDING EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES WILL LIFT UP OUR ENTIRE REGION. WE ARE CHALLENGED TO HAVE COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS, TO LISTEN AND LEARN, WELCOME DIFFERENCES WHILE EXPLORING SIMILARITIES AND CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL, NOT JUST SOME. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO WEAVE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO SERVE AS A CATALYST AND CONVENER FOR REGIONAL BUSINESSES, PROVIDING THE TOOLS, RESOURCES AND INFORMATION YOU NEED TO DRIVE YOUR OWN DE&I INITIATIVES.GOVERNMENT RELATIONS:ADVOCATING FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITYTHRIVING COMMUNITIES DON'T JUST HAPPEN. RATHER, THEY ARE THE RESULT OF SMART PLANNING, COLLABORATION AND DEDICATION TO DRIVING SOLUTIONS. THE CHAMBER'S GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM WORKS TIRELESSLY TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY AND OUR MEMBERS ABOUT CURRENT ISSUES, GIVE ACCESS TO ELECTED LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR REGION'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY - ALL SO THE COLLECTIVE VOICE OF REGIONAL BUSINESSES ARE HEARD. OUR TEAM ADVOCATES AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS AND TAKES A PROACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO TACKLING OUR REGION'S GREATEST CHALLENGES. HOUSING ATTAINABILITYWHILE CHARLESTON RANKS THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN THE U.S. TO VISIT BY TRAVEL + LEISURE'S WORLD'S BEST AWARDS, IT FAILS TO PAINT THE PICTURE THAT MANY LOCALS ARE FACED WITH - A CRIPPLING HOUSING CRISIS. WITH AN ESTIMATED 89,600 FAMILIES IN THE REGION SPENDING MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING, THERE IS A CLEAR NEED FOR A REGIONAL EFFORT AND PUSH TO MEET THE NEEDS.WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE COST AND AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING ISN'T JUST AFFECTING ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE, IT IS IMPACTING EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND INDUSTRY SECTORS. TO ACCOMMODATE PROJECTED GROWTH AND ALLOW BUSINESSES TO THRIVE, OUR REGION NEEDS MORE HOUSING SUPPLY, MORE CHOICES, BETTER PROXIMITY TO TRANSIT AND JOB CENTERS, AND MORE ATTAINABLE OPTIONS AT EVERY INCOME LEVEL. WE KNOW WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE HOUSING IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP IT AT THE TOP OF OUR PRIORITY LIST.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 April 2010.
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.