Four County Community Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 54%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $126,366, executive 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 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $1.5 million spent. PROVIDE GRANTS TO LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR SERVICE AREA. PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN OUR SERVICE AREA WHO ARE PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING: AWARDED 121 GRANTS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTH/WELLNESS, COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND HUMAN SERVICE (FOOD PANTRIES, WOMEN'S SHELTER, HOMELESS SHELTERS, HOSPICE SERVICES) AND AWARDED OVER 291 SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATES OF LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS WHO ARE PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION AT A COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TRADE SCHOOL.
- $395,454 spent. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES INCLUDES AN EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY PROGRAM, AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, A MEMORIAL GARDEN PROJECT FOR THE VICTIMS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING, AND A HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING: PROVIDED AN AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK EACH MONTH TO APPROXIMATELY 2,500 CHILDREN WHO RESIDE IN OUR SERVICE AREA (BIRTH TO AGE 5); CONNECTED FOUR COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIPS; PROVIDED ON-THE-JOB LEARNING EXPERIENCES WITH WEEKLY CHECK-INS; PROVIDED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF A MEMORIAL GARDEN PROJECT IN MEMORY OF FOUR LOCAL TEENAGERS THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN A SCHOOL SHOOTING; AND PROVIDED GIFTS AND MUCH-NEEDED CLOTHING, COATS/GLOVES, AND SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
- N/A
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Orange County Community Foundation (Irvine, CA), EIN 33-0378778. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.