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Legacy Philanthropy Works

EIN 47-2584632 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF CATALYTIC CHANGEMAKERS SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-DRIVEN AND PLACE-BASED CHANGE INITIATIVES THAT ENABLE COMMUNITIES, LANDSCAPES AND ECONOMIES TO THRIVE. WE FACILITATE AND SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIVES, DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND PLANS, MOBILIZE INNOVATIVE IMPACT FINANCE, AND PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF CONSULTING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION.

Income
$9.2 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
48
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$175,800, director/executive direct

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 191% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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 (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE FACILITATION AND PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT - WE SUPPORT COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, PLACE-BASED PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIVES THAT CREATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND LANDSCAPES. WE SERVE AS A SUPPORT ORGANIZATION AND PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO HELP PARTNERSHIPS DEVELOP PLANS, IDENTIFY IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, LAUNCH CATALYTIC INITIATIVES, RESOURCE EMERGENT FOLLOW-ON OPPORTUNITIES, MOBILIZE FUNDING AND FULL SPECTRUM CAPITAL, DEVELOP COMMUNICATIONS, BUILD CAPACITY, AND STEWARD PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS A VIRTUOUS CYCLE THAT LEADS TO GREATER COLLABORATION AND INVESTMENT IN SYSTEMS SCALE CHANGE.
  2. $455,302 spent. IMPACT FINANCE CONSULTING AND INFRASTRUCTURE - WE HELP FUNDERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, COLLABORATIONS AND COMMUNITIES IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES, DILIGENCE, PLAN, AND IMPLEMENT IMPACT FINANCE INITIATIVES. WE UNDERTAKE FEASIBILITY AND MARKET STUDIES. WE SUPPORT IMPACT FINANCE INIATIVES AT SCALES FROM SINGLE PROJECTS TO THE CREATION OF FUNDS OR OTHER PRODUCT OFFERINGS TO COMMUNITY-WIDE IMPACT INVESTING INITIATIVES. WE PROVIDE SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE, SYSTEMS AND SERVICES TO FACILITATE THE CREATION OF SUCH INITIATIVES.
  3. $420,694 spent. CAPACITY SUPPORT SERVICES - WE PROVIDE ALIGNED ORGANIZATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE NEEDED TO LAUNCH NEW PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, TAKE ON NEW PROJECTS, DEVELOP COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING PROGRAMS, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS, DEVELOP GIS, MAPPING, DATABASE OR TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, AND MORE. WE DESIGN AND FACILITATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES, PLANNING SESSIONS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, TRAININGS, AND OTHER PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THESE SMALLER SCALE ENGAGEMENTS OFTEN BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO BIGGER PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES.
  4. $41,231 spent. IMPACT INITIATIVE PLANNING AND CONSULTING - WE PROVIDE CONSULTING AND PLANNING SERVICES TO AGENCIES, FUNDERS, NONPROFITS, SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, IMPACT FUNDS, PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITIES. WE DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR INITIATIVES OF ALL SCALES FROM SINGLE PROJECTS TO FOUNDATION, NONPROFIT AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE STRATEGIES TO LARGE SCALE COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES AND PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (INCLUDING MULTI-PARTY, CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIONS AND AGENCY COALITIONS) TO FUNDS AND VENTURES. OUR PLANS INCLUDE FUNDING STRATEGIES THAT TAP INTO A RANGE OF CAPITAL SOURCES FROM PHILANTHROPY TO DEBT TO IMPACT INVESTMENT CAPITAL.

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 July 2015.

    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.