Sigma Kappa Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SIGMA KAPPA FOUNDATION EXISTS TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF SIGMA KAPPA MEMBERS.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 51%
- Reserves
- 36.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $146,108, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 36.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1551% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 May 31, 2026, 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)
- $433,128 spent. THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOMPASS THE INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER, THE FRATERNITY/SORORITY COMMUNITY, THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL. THE SIGMA KAPPA FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PERSONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TOTALING $3.2 MILLION SINCE 1989. GRANTS ARE MADE PURSUANT TO APPROPRIATE GRANT DOCUMENTATION. NO GRANTS OR ALLOCATIONS ARE/OR INCLUDE FOREIGN GRANTS. SIGMA KAPPA EDUCATIONAL GRANTS: EDUCATIONAL AREA GRANTS. THE EDUCATIONAL AREA GRANT PROGRAM IS A SPECIAL INITIATIVE WHEREBY THE SIGMA KAPPA FOUNDATION MAY MAKE HOUSING GRANTS FOR PURELY EDUCATIONAL SPACES IN LOCAL CHAPTER HOUSES, AS LONG AS THE SPECIFIC REQUEST COMPLIES WITH INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS. THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE EDUCATIONAL AREA GRANT PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT ELIGIBLE CHAPTERS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, RELIEVE THE LOCAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OF SOME OF THE BURDEN OF PROVIDING STUDY AND LIBRARY FACILITIES. EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP GRANTS. SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS WERE SUPPORTED BY A FOUNDATION GRANT. SUMMIT FOR COLLEGIATE LEADERSHIP. THE SUMMIT FOR COLLEGIATE LEADERSHIP (SUMMIT) WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS, WITH STRONG FEEDBACK FROM ATTENDEES, FACILITATORS AND STAFF. THE DATA PAINTS A VIVID PICTURE OF PARTICIPANTS' CONFIDENCE AND GROWTH, PARTICULARLY IN LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. OVERALL, THE DATA REFLECTS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM WITH CLEAR AREAS OF STRENGTH AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER ENHANCEMENT. 1. ATTENDEES REPORTED INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LEADERSHIP ABILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN LEADERSHIP STYLES, COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT. MANY NOTED FEELING MORE PREPARED TO LEAD EFFECTIVELY AND APPLY PRACTICAL SKILLS WITHIN THEIR ROLES. 2. PARTICIPANTS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCING ACCOUNTABILITY WITH EMPATHY, HIGHLIGHTING POSITIVE STANDARDS, BELONGING AND PEOPLE-FIRST LEADERSHIP AS KEY ELEMENTS IN FOSTERING HEALTHY CHAPTER CULTURES AND SUPPORTING MEMBER GROWTH. 3. PEER LEARNING AND CONNECTION WERE CONSISTENTLY IDENTIFIED AS VALUABLE ASPECTS OF THE EXPERIENCE, WITH ATTENDEES APPRECIATING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE IDEAS, LEARN FROM OTHERS' EXPERIENCES AND BUILD SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS CHAPTERS. VOLUNTEER TRAINING. A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM WAS THE KEYNOTE SESSION LED BY LINDSAY BOCCARDO, WHICH FOCUSED ON GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES, COMMUNICATION STYLES, AND COACHING-BASED LEADERSHIP. PARTICIPANTS CONSISTENTLY IDENTIFIED THIS SESSION AS HIGHLY IMPACTFUL, NOTING INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF GEN Z DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS, AND A SHIFT TOWARD "COACHING RATHER THAN DOING" IN THEIR VOLUNTEER ROLES. MANY VOLUNTEERS DESCRIBED THIS AS A MINDSET SHIFT THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS MORE EFFECTIVE PRIORITIZATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND REDUCES BURNOUT ASSOCIATED WITH OVEREXTENSION. THIS LEARNING WAS REINFORCED AND OPERATIONALIZED THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE 11-PAGE IMPLEMENTATION PACKET PROVIDED BY JEN MANLY AFTER HER PRESENTATION. THE PACKET INCLUDED WORKSHEETS, TRACKING TOOLS, AND STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES THAT GUIDED PARTICIPANTS IN EVALUATING CURRENT PROCESSES, PRIORITIZING TASKS BASED ON IMPACT, AND TRANSLATING CONCEPTS INTO ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS. THESE RESOURCES STRENGTHENED THE PROGRAM'S ABILITY TO MOVE FROM CONCEPTUAL LEARNING TO APPLIED PRACTICE, SUPPORTING SUSTAINED BEHAVIOR CHANGE BEYOND THE PRESENTATION. IN ADDITION, MENTAL HEALTH CONTENT PROVIDED PRACTICAL STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES TO HELP VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZE, RESPOND TO, AND SUPPORT MEMBERS EXPERIENCING STRESS OR CRISIS, WHILE ALSO MANAGING THEIR OWN EMOTIONAL LOAD. PARTICIPANTS FREQUENTLY NOTED THE VALUE OF THIS TRAINING IN HELPING THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND BOUNDARIES, NORMALIZE CONVERSATIONS AROUND BURNOUT AND GUILT, AND FEEL MORE EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT COLLEGIATE MEMBERS IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY. SURVEY FEEDBACK CONFIRMS THAT THESE COMBINED LEARNING EXPERIENCES RESULTED IN INCREASED AWARENESS, BEHAVIORAL INTENTION CHANGES, AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF KEY CONCEPTS. PARTICIPANTS CONSISTENTLY REFERENCED IMPROVED ABILITY TO PRIORITIZE WORK BASED ON IMPACT, SET HEALTHIER BOUNDARIES, AND MANAGE STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH VOLUNTEER SERVICE. TRAVELING LEADERSHIP SPECIALIST (TLS) GRANT. THE GRANT FOR THE TLS PROGRAM IS USED TO CONDUCT THE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING OF CHAPTER MEMBERS AND THE TRAINING OF INDIVIDUALS TO DO SUCH COUNSELING. GROUP DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES ON LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING, ACHIEVEMENT OF HIGH SCHOLASTIC ATTAINMENT, CITIZENSHIP, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND ADVANCED LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR SELECTED INDIVIDUALS. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING INCLUDES ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH SELECTED UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTER MEMBERS OF THE SORORITY REGARDING LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND SCHOLARSHIP AND STUDY TECHNIQUES, AND IN ADDITION EACH SPECIALIST SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ADVISE ANY CHAPTER MEMBER SEEKING INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING REGARDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PROBLEMS. THIS PROGRAM EMBODIES THE ORGANIZATION'S CORE VALUE OF PERSONAL GROWTH. THE PROGRAM CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGES PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TLS TO PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY GROW AS WELL AS BECOME MORE DIVERSE IN THEIR SKILLSETS ALL WHILE MOTIVATING AND INSPIRING OTHERS. TLS GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING AND SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE, PATIENCE, CONFIDENCE AND STRENGTH THROUGHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE. THE TLS PROGRAM TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, ALL WHILE UTILIZING THE SKILLSETS DEVELOPED TO INSPIRE OTHERS. ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PIECES OF THE PROGRAM IS LEARNING WHO YOU ARE AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND HAVING A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM ALONG THE WAY. CAREER DEVELOPMENT GRANT. CAREERHOUSE IS A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ALL MEMBERS OF SIGMA KAPPA WHO ARE SEEKING CAREER GUIDANCE. THE MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT WOMEN TO CREATE A PLAN OF ACTION TO NAVIGATE THEIR CAREER. BASED ON THE SUCCESS THUS FAR OF OUR PARTNERSHIP, WHI
- $223,499 spent. 118 SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO OUTSTANDING MEMBERS WHO EXEMPLIFY SIGMA KAPPA'S VALUES OF INTEGRITY, LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND SISTERHOOD.SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE SCHOLASTIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COLLEGIATE AND ALUMNAE SISTERS. THESE WORTHY OPPORTUNITIES COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM SIGMA KAPPA SISTERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND OTHER DONORS.
- $101,706 spent. THE FOUNDATION WAS CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO 24 MEMBERS WHO HAVE SEVERE FINANCIAL DISTRESS DUE TO PRESIDENTIALLY-DECLARED DISASTERS, UNEXPECTED LIFE OCCURRENCES SUCH AS A LOSS OF A JOB AND ILLNESS. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO MEMBERS WHO ARE FACED WITH HORRIFIC ISSUES AND HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, 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 November 6, 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 May 2026.
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 November 1989.
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 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.