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Muskingum County Community Foundation

EIN 31-1147022 · Zanesville, OH

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

THE MISSION OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (MCCF) IS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY BY NURTURING OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVING NEEDS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND PHILANTHROPY.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
92.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
8
Volunteers
38
Highest pay
$141,083, ceo

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 64% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 92.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (5)
  1. $2.0 million spent. FUNDING OF VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND SUPPORT OF NUMEROUS COMMUNITY AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING: - ASSISTING LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AS WELL AS ATHLETIC COMPLEX IMPROVEMENTS. - PROVIDING FUNDING TO SUPPORT LOCAL LITERACY AND ART PROGRAMS. - FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH FOR VARIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES.
  2. $1.2 million spent. FUNDING FOR SCHOLARSHIP CENTRAL PROGRAM TO ASSIST LOCAL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE. OFFERED ACT PREP CLASSES FOR AREA STUDENTS, ASSISTED STUDENTS IN COMPLETING APPLICATIONS AND PROOFREADING ESSAYS. WORKED WITH LOCAL DONORS TO ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. CREATED AND REVISED APPLICATION QUESTIONS AND GRADING RUBRIC TO BE USED BY THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.
  3. $275,473 spent. THE MAKE MUSKINGUM HOME PROGRAM IS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE J.W. AND M.H. STRAKER FOUNDATION AND THE MUSKINGUM COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (MCCF). THOSE WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE IN THE LAST 7 YEARS APPLY TO HAVE MCCF PAY OFF THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT (UP TO 10,000 PER YEAR FOR 5 YEARS). GRADUATES MUST LIVE IN AND WORK IN MUSKINGUM COUNTY TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE. PAYMENTS ARE MADE MONTHLY DIRECTLY TO THE STUDENT LOAN AGENCIES. WINNERS RECEIVED 1099'S EACH YEAR SINCE DEBT PAYMENTS MADE ARE CONSIDERED TAXABLE INCOME. THE PROGRAM HOPES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT IN MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
  4. VARIOUS OTHER ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE, WITH NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITTING.
  5. VARIOUS OTHER ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE, WITH NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITTING.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 1986.

    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 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.