Harrison County Community Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND ASSIST EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE PHILANTHROPY, PRODUCING POSITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN HARRISON COUNTY. OUR VISION IS TO GROW HARRISON COUNTY INTO THE BEST COMMUNITY TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY. WE VALUE GENEROSITY, INTEGRITY, SUSTAINABILITY, STEWARDSHIP, INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, INCLUSION, AND EXCELLENCE.
- Income
- $10.6 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 12.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $176,720, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 68% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 162% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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, 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)
- $2.5 million spent. OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND ASSIST EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE PHILANTHROPY, PRODUCING POSITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN HARRISON COUNTY. OUR VISION IS TO GROW HARRISON COUNTY INTO THE BEST COMMUNITY TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY. WE VALUE GENEROSITY, INTEGRITY, SUSTAINABILITY, STEWARDSHIP, INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, INCLUSION, AND EXCELLENCE. HCCF HAS A UNIQUE HISTORY. IN A RIVERBOAT GAMING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DATED MAY 15, 1996, RDI/CAESARS RIVERBOAT, LLC AGREED WITH THE HARRISON COUNTY, INDIANA, GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE $5,000,000 TO CREATE THE FOUNDATION. THE THREE SEATED COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SELECTED 21 HARRISON COUNTY CITIZENS TO BECOME THE FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS. OVER TIME, HCCF HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE EIGHT FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, ONE PART-TIME STAFF MEMBER, A 16-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND MULTIPLE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CAESARS SOUTHERN INDIANA (FORMERLY HORSESHOE SOUTHERN INDIANA), HCCF HAS BEEN ABLE TO UNDERTAKE SEVERAL AMBITIOUS PROJECTS. HCCF FUNCTIONS LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DONORS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAVORITE CAUSES. ADDITIONALLY, THE ONGOING SUPPORT FROM CAESARS SOUTHERN INDIANA ENABLES HCCF TO OFFER VARIOUS GIFT-MATCHING PROGRAMS. HCCF VALUES ITS ROLE AS A CATALYST, CONVENER, AND COLLABORATOR, BRINGING TOGETHER OTHER FUNDERS AND NONPROFITS AROUND VITAL ISSUES AND PROVIDING KEY SUPPORT TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE POSSIBLE. OUR WORK IS CENTERED AROUND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT COMMUNITY NEEDS. WE SERVE RESIDENTS OF HARRISON COUNTY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: -AWARDING GRANTS TO HELP NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES IN ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, ETC. -AWARDING ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO HARRISON COUNTY GRADUATING STUDENTS AND ADULT STUDENTS -FUNDING PROGRAMS BENEFITING CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS -PROVIDING AN AVENUE FOR DONORS TO MEET THEIR CHARITABLE GOALS THROUGH ENDOWMENT FUNDS-HELPING NONPROFITS BE MORE SUSTAINABLE SO THEY CAN HELP MORE COUNTY RESIDENTS THRIVE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:- DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY (DPIL) - ENCOURAGES A LOVE FOR READING BY PROVIDING EACH PRESCHOOL CHILD ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM WITH AN AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK BY MAIL EACH MONTH UNTIL THEIR FIFTH BIRTHDAY. SINCE 2008, HCCF HAS SERVED AS THE LOCAL SPONSOR FOR DPIL, DISTRIBUTING OVER 313,000 BOOKS IN HARRISON COUNTY. IN 2024, 1,881 PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED A BOOK AS PART OF DPIL, WITH OVER 415 NEW SIGN-UPS. CHILDREN CAN BE ENROLLED THROUGH THE FOUNDATION OR AT ONE OF THE PARTICIPATING PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE HARRISON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, YMCA OF HARRISON COUNTY, HARRISON COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES, HARRISON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND HARRISON COUNTY HOSPITAL. IN 2023-2024, INDIANA GOVERNOR ERIC J. HOLCOMB APPROVED STATE FUNDING TO COVER 50% OF PROGRAM COSTS FOR DPIL. THE INDIANA STATE LIBRARY WILL SERVE AS THE STATE PROGRAM SPONSOR TO HELP OFFSET THE EXPENSES OF THIS PROGRAM, PROVIDING A 50% REDUCTION IN EXPENSES FOR HCCF AS THE LOCAL SPONSOR FOR DPIL. THE EARLY READERS FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY, CONTINUES TO BENEFIT FROM A 2:1 MATCH. - THE DICTIONARY PROJECT - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A DICTIONARY TO EVERY THIRD GRADER IN HARRISON COUNTY. STUDENTS ATTENDING THE NINE HARRISON COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS RECEIVE THEIR OWN DICTIONARY TO USE AT SCHOOL AND TAKE HOME. FIVE HUNDRED TEN (510) DICTIONARIES WERE DISTRIBUTED IN 2024. EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX (8,656) HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED SINCE HCCF BEGAN PARTNERING WITH THE DICTIONARY PROJECT IN 2008. THE PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN COMPLETING THE SCHOOL YEAR AS GOOD WRITERS, ACTIVE READERS, AND CREATIVE THINKERS. - YOUTH PHILANTHROPY COUNCIL (YPC) - ANNOUNCES ITS GRANT AWARDS FOR 2025. THE YPC GRANT PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES IN HARRISON COUNTY. YPC PROMOTES YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING HIGH SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE PHILANTHROPY THROUGH COLLABORATION, EDUCATION, AND GRANT-MAKING. HCCF PARTNERS WITH LEADERSHIP HARRISON COUNTY (LHC) TO SUPPORT YPC'S PARTICIPATION IN THE LHC YOUTH PROGRAM, WHICH ENGAGES YOUNG LEADERS ACROSS HARRISON COUNTY. IN 2024, YPC AWARDED CORYDON CENTRAL VANGUARD $2,000 TO PURCHASE FORTY NEW VANGUARD UNIFORMS TO REPLACE OLD UNIFORMS, LANESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL $2,000 TO SUPPORT AFTER PROM, A SAFE, INVITING ENVIRONMENT FOR LANESVILLE STUDENTS AND THEIR GUESTS AFTER ATTENDING PROM, AND HARRISON COUNTY 4-H CLUB ASSOCIATION $600 TO SUPPORT A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT TO ASSEMBLE AND INSTALL TEN BIRD FEEDERS FOR THE HARRISON SPRINGS HEALTH CAMPUS. THE YOUTH PHILANTHROPY FUND, WHICH PROVIDES YOUTH-LED GRANTMAKING DOLLARS, CONTINUES TO BENEFIT FROM A 2:1 MATCH. - ENDOWMENTS - HCCF HOLDS 331 ENDOWMENT FUNDS SUPPORTING A BROAD ARRAY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND CAUSES. THE TYPES OF FUNDS INCLUDE DESIGNATED AGENCY, DONOR ADVISED, FIELD OF INTEREST, SCHOLARSHIP, AND BUILDER'S FUNDS (UNRESTRICTED). THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF AN ENDOWMENT IS TO PROVIDE A LONG-TERM, GROWING SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AN ORGANIZATION OR CAUSE. ENDOWMENT FUND BENEFICIARIES ACCESS THEIR FUNDS BY COMPLETING AN ENDOWMENT FUND GRANT REQUEST. ENDOWMENT GRANT REQUESTS ARE REVIEWED BY STAFF AND THE GRANTS COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THEY MEET CRITERIA FOUND IN THE ENDOWMENT FUND AGREEMENT AND ARE APPROVED BY THE HCCF BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ONCE THE FUNDS ARE USED, BENEFICIARIES SUBMIT A SHORT GRANT REPORT FORM TO HCCF. - ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS - NEARLY HALF OF HCCF'S ENDOWMENT FUNDS ARE DEVOTED TO PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS. THE WIDE SCOPE OF SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA AND AWARDS REFLECTS THE DIVERSE INTERESTS OF THE DONORS WHO ESTABLISHED THEM. THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST SCHOLARSHIP FUND, ESTABLISHED BY HCCF, PROVIDES FUNDING FOR A $20,000 SCHOLARSHIP AT EACH OF THE FOUR HARRISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS TO A STUDENT PLANNING TO ATTEND INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST. ALL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED USING OBJECTIVE AND NONDISCRIMINATORY SELECTION PROCESSES
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
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 April 1998.
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.