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Lacrosse Community Foundation

EIN 39-6037996 · La Crosse, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTING PEOPLE, PASSION, AND GIVING IN THE LA CROSSE AREA FOREVER.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 62%
Employees
10
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$146,402, chief executive officer

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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
  1. $4.5 million spent. DONOR-FOCUS ACTIVITIES: WORKING WITH LOCAL DONORS TO ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER ENDOWED CHARITABLE FUNDS TO MAKE NONCOMPETITIVE GRANTS OR SCHOLARSHIPS TO QUALIFIED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR PHILANTHROPIC INTEREST AREAS. CURRENTLY, LCF ADMINISTERS 298 DONOR-DIRECTED FUNDS. IN 2025, A TOTAL OF $3,874,544 WERE AWARDED IN NONCOMPETITIVE GRANTS AND $373,000 WERE AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIPS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. COMMUNITY-FOCUSED ACTIVITIES: GROWING A SOURCE OF PERMANENT, UNRESTRICTED COMMUNITY CAPITAL FROM PHILANTHROPIC GIFTS TO AWARD COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO QUALIFIED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN LA CROSSE COUNTY WHO ARE MEETING IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS. LCF HAS 32 FUNDS THAT AWARD COMPETITIVE GRANTS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EACH QUARTER. LCF AWARDED $909,343.
  3. $269,199 spent. LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS: SERVICE TO CONVENE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AROUND CURRENT COMMUNITY NEEDS AND HELPING AREA CHARITABLE GROUPS AND NONPROFITS BUILD CAPACITY TO INCREASE THEIR IMPACT.
  4. $278,798 spent. AGENCY-FUND ACTIVITIES: LCF MANAGES AGENCY FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE LCF HAS FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE FUNDS, AND EACH YEAR THE ORGANIZATION CAN CHOOSE TO TAKE THE SPENDING RATE DISTRIBUTION, OR CONTINUE TO GROW THE FUND WITH ITS ANNUAL EARNINGS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 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 January 1952.

    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 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.