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Stratum

EIN 35-2692988 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE STRATUM FOUNDATION IS A BAY AREA FOCUSED ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR GOSPEL-GROUNDED LEADERS AND INSTITUTIONS IN THE BAY AREA.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
2
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$48,000, president/managing directo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 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. $1.7 million spent. CATALYTIC FUNDING - THE CHURCH PLANT STARTUP GRANT SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT NEW CHURCHES AS PART OF CATALYZING AND FOSTERING A HEALTHY GOSPEL ECOSYSTEM IN THE BAY AREA. THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO A PORTFOLIO OF CHURCH PLANTS THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF GEOGRAPHY, ETHNICITY, AND CHURCH-PLANTING MODELS IN THE BAY AREA. OUR MATCHING GRANTS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE A CATALYZING OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHURCH PLANT TO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INVESTMENT. WE SEEK TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EXISTING DONORS, NETWORKS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING NEEDED FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO A NEW CHURCH. SINCE 2019, OVER 5 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN DONATED TO NEW CHURCHES THROUGH OUR MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.
  2. $21,995 spent. INCUBATOR - THE CITY TO CITY INCUBATOR IS OUR ONE-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PASTORS WHO ARE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF ESTABLISHING A NEW CHURCH. WE PROVIDE IN-DEPTH, CONTEXTUALIZED TRAINING, AS WELL AS RELATIONAL SUPPORT, TO HELP PARTICIPANTS ESTABLISH HEALTHY AND EFFECTIVE NEW CHURCHES. PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM LEARN ALONGSIDE OTHER LEADERS OF NEW CHURCHES FOR ONE DAY EACH MONTH, IN A RETREAT-LIKE ENVIRONMENT. INCUBATOR IS DELIVERED TO CHURCH PLANTERS THROUGH LOCAL BAY AREA TRAINERS, PASTORS AND LEADERS WITH A TRACK RECORD OF FAITHFUL AND FRUITFUL MINISTRY. SINCE 2018, LEADERS OF 22 NEW CHURCHES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR INCUBATOR.
  3. $7,957 spent. COACHING - STRATUM COACHING IS FOR BAY AREA PASTORS AND CHURCH PLANTERS. WE FACILITATE SMALL COHORTS OF LEADERS THAT MEET TOGETHER MONTHLY FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION, PRACTICAL MINISTRY HELP, AND PERSONAL CARE. THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED AS A JUMPING-OFF POINT TO WORK THROUGH THE DECISIONS, CHALLENGES, AND CONCERNS THAT LEADERS ARE PRESENTLY FACING AS PEOPLE, PARTNERS, PARENTS, AND PLANTERS/PASTORS. OUR COACHING COHORTS PAIR 3-6 PASTORS AND CHURCH PLANTERS WITH EXPERIENCED BAY AREA CHRISTIAN LEADERS. COACHING COHORTS MEET ONCE A MONTH FOR A HALF-DAY AT OUR OFFICE IN THE RETREAT-ATMOSPHERE OF SAN FRANCISCO'S PRESIDO.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 September 2021.

    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.