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Barberton Community Foundation

EIN 34-1846432 · Barberton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE BARBERTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS TO STRENGTHEN THE BARBERTON COMMUNITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP, FOSTERING COLLABORATION, AND CREATING A LEGACY OF GIVING TO DO GOOD.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
24.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 87%
Employees
6
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$246,159, director

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 101% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS - BCF PROVIDED 35 GRANTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TOTALING $406,543 TO 24 ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDED 132 GENERAL FUND SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $231,393 DURING 2025. DONOR FUNDS PROVIDED 23 AWARDS TOTALING $114,640 TO 12 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND 59 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $83,704. TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FOR ALL FUNDS WERE $315,097, WTH A TOTAL OF 191 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED. TOTAL GRANT AWARDS FOR ALL FUNDS WERE $521,183 WITH A TOTAL OF 58 GRANTS AWARDED TO 31 RECIPIENTS. A TOTAL OF $97,879 IN GRANTS WERE RETURNED. GRAND TOTAL OF ALL AWARDS AND FUND DISTRIBUTIONS FOR 2025 WAS $738,401.
  2. PROGRAM-RELATED INVESTMENTS - INVESTMENTS PROVIDED TO LOCAL 501(C)(3) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR JOB GROWTH AND MAINTAIN HOUSING IN THE CITY OF BARBERTON THROUGH LOW-INTEREST LOANS TO LOCAL COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL-USE PROPERTY. THERE WERE NO NEW INVESTMENTS DISBURSED DURING 2025.
  3. $1.1 million spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - BCF PROVIDED 6 GRANTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TOTALING $415,601 TO 2 ORGANIZATIONS.

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 June 1997.

    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.