Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE GENEROSITY, TO GATHER AND GROW COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND TO ACT TO ENSURE THAT BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY IS ANEXCEPTIONAL PLACE FOR ALL TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY.
- Income
- $14.7 million
- Spending
- $8.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 7.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $129,850, president & ceo - part year
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 26 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, 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 (1)
- $7.4 million spent. HERITAGE FUND IS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY. THE FOUNDATION EXISTS SOLELY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. ITS MISSION IS TO PROVIDE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF GIFTS DONATED FOR BROAD CHARITABLE PURPOSES, TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY ISSUES, TO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS, AND TO PROMOTE PHILANTHROPY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR, HERITAGE FUND MANAGES A COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROCESS FOR OVER $500,000 IN UNRESTRICTED DOLLARS FROM THE COMMUNITY FUND IN THE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY, POSITIVE CHANGE, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. THE FOUNDATION IS THE KEY ADMINISTRATOR OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, AND CONDUCTS THE ANNUAL SELECTION PROCESS FOR TWO LILLY SCHOLARSHIPS. HERITAGE FUND SERVES AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PROJECTS, TWO OF WHICH ARE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMMONS IN 2011, AND LANDMARK COLUMBUS, A CELEBRATION OF THE DESIGN HERITAGE OF COLUMBUS IN 2017. DISTRIBUTION FROM THE FOUNDATIONS MANY DONOR ADVISED, DESIGNATED, AGENCY AND FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS SUPPORT A BROAD VARIETY OF CHARITABLE PURPOSES.THE HERITAGE FUND BOARD IS COMPOSED OF 26 COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE FOUNDATION EMPLOYS 6 PROFESSIONALS, AND ENLISTS THE AID OF OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE ON DEVELOPMENT, GRANTS, OUTREACH, FINANCE AND AUDIT, INVESTMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEES.
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
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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 August 1975.
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 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.