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Lakewood Foundation

EIN 31-1529669 · Lakewood, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION IS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION ENHANCES THE LIVES OF LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS BY SERVING AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR SERVICE GROUPS AND CITY DEPARTMENTS. THE TRUSTEES OF THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION ASSIST AND SUPPORT SPECIAL PROJECTS THEY BELIEVE WILL FURTHER THE WELL BEING OF THE LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY.

Income
$640,766
Spending
$428,380
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 50%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $399,539 spent. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION WAS CREATED IN 1996 AS A 501(C)(3) TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THE LIVES OF LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS BY ENABLING THEM TO LIVE MORE PRODUCTIVELY AND WITH DIGNITY. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION WILL ACT AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD OR FORMED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS OF LAKEWOOD AS APPROVED BY THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES. IN ADDITION, THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION WILL ALSO PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT OF PROGRAMS, GRANTS AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION HAS ASSISTED VARIOUS GROUPS WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD WITH FUNDRAISING EFFORTS BY SERVING AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THEIR PROJECTS. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION HAS WORKED VIGOROUSLY TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST ALL OF THE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. CURRENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDE: THE FAMILY ROOM, H2O, FAMILY TO FAMILY PLAY A DAY, LAKEWOOD COMMISSION ON AGING AND THE AGING NUTRITION SITE. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION IS COMPRISED OF VOTING MEMBERS-AT-LARGE REPRESENTING THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION IS GOVERNED BY OUR BYLAWS AND INVESTMENT POLICY, COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. A PORTION OF OUR FUNDS ARE INVESTED WITH THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION, FIRST FEDERAL OF LAKEWOOD AND RAYMOND JAMES. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION WAS CREATED IN 1996 AS A 501(C)(3) TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THE LIVES OF LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS BY ENABLING THEM TO LIVE MORE PRODUCTIVELY AND WITH DIGNITY. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION WILL ACT AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD OR FORMED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS OF LAKEWOOD AS APPROVED BY THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES. IN ADDITION, THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION WILL ALSO PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT OF PROGRAMS, GRANTS AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION HAS ASSISTED VARIOUS GROUPS WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD WITH FUNDRAISING EFFORTS BY SERVING AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THEIR PROJECTS. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION HAS WORKED VIGOROUSLY TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST ALL OF THE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. CURRENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDE: THE FAMILY ROOM, H2O, FAMILY TO FAMILY PLAY A DAY, LAKEWOOD COMMISSION ON AGING AND THE AGING NUTRITION SITE. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION IS COMPRISED OF VOTING MEMBERS-AT-LARGE REPRESENTING THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION IS GOVERNED BY OUR BYLAWS AND INVESTMENT POLICY, COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. A PORTION OF OUR FUNDS ARE INVESTED WITH THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION, FIRST FEDERAL OF LAKEWOOD AND RAYMOND JAMES.

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

  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 2024.

    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 August 2014.

    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.