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Madison Community Foundation

EIN 39-6038248 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MADISON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WILL ENGAGE GREATER MADISON IN PHILANTHROPY TO ADVANCE A MORE VIBRANT AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY.

Income
$55.3 million
Spending
$19.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
20
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$303,631, president & 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 66% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 175% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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)
  1. $16.1 million spent. CREATION OF PERMANENT CHARITABLE FUNDS, ADMINISTATION AND INVESTMENT OF THOSE FUNDS, AND GRANTS TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, PRIMARILY IN THE AREA OF DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. GRANTS ARE MADE BOTH THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL PROCESS AND IN RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DONOR FUNDHOLDERS. 45 NEW FUNDS WERE CREATED IN 2024; 1,304 FUNDS WERE HELD AT THE END OF 20242,350 GIFTS WERE RECEIVED FROM 1,018 DONORSANNUALIZED INVESTMENT RETURN, NET OF FEES, AS OF 12/31/24 WAS: 10.1% (1YR); 3.5% (3YRS); 7.7% (5YRS); 7.6% (10YRS); 7.4% (15YRS) PERCENTILE RANKING IN INVESTMENT SURVEY OF PEER COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS WAS: 44% (1YR); 81% (3YRS); 57% (5YRS); 71% (7YRS); 93% (10YRS)2,105 GRANTS WERE DISTRIBUTED63% OF GRANTS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO ORGANIZATIONS IN DANE COUNTY, 18% TO ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER WISCONSIN COUNTIES, 19% TO ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER STATES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.