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Community Foundation of Lorain County

EIN 34-1322781 · Elyria, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RESPONDS TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BY MAKING GRANTS TO LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP LOCAL STUDENTS, WORKING TOGETHER WITH DONORS TO BUILD COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT AND PROVIDING LEADERSHIP ON KEY COMMUNITY ISSUES.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 53%
Employees
16
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$218,640, president & ceo

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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, 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 (2)
  1. $5.6 million spent. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS A GRANTMAKING ORGANIZATION. APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE GRANTS AUTHORIZED IN 2024 WERE DIRECTED BY THE BOARD TOWARD STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE REQUESTS THAT ADDRESS VITAL COMMUNITY NEEDS IN LORAIN COUNTY AND TO RESPOND TO EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES IN A WIDE RANGE OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN LORAIN COUNTY. GRANTS AWARDED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS IN 2024 SUPPORTED PROGRAMS ACROSS A DIVERSE IMPACT AREA, SUCH AS ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENT, ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, AND PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE REMAINING GRANTS AUTHORIZED IN 2024 WERE AS DESIGNATED TO THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FROM DESIGNATED, DONOR ADVISED OR AGENCY FUNDS.
  2. $555,882 spent. OVER 190 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL WERE AWARDED TO STUDENTS AS DIVERSE AS THE DONORS WHO CREATED THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. IN 2024, SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED FOR TECH PROGRAMS, CREATIVE WRITING, JOURNALISM, MEDICAL PROGRAMS, AND MANY OTHER ADVANCED LEARNING PURSUITS.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 March 1981.

    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 October 21, 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.