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Venture Capital Foundation

EIN 47-4114024 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VENTURE FORWARD IS A NON-PROFIT FOUNDATION WITH A MISSION TO DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO THE VC INDUSTRY, EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND GEOGRAPHIES TO THRIVE AS INVESTORS, AND EQUIP FUTURE VC LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS. WE SUPPORT EMERGING FUND MANAGERS AND INVESTORS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND RESOURCES TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DRIVING HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE GENERATIONAL CHANGE WITHIN ESTABLISHED VC FIRMS, ENSURING STRONG INDUSTRY STEWARDSHIP FOR THE FUTURE. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE ENVISION A VC INDUSTRY THAT REACHES ALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UNLOCKING GREATER INNOVATION, ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND FINANCIAL RETURNS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
50 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
0
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$1.5 million, director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 40 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. THE FOUNDATION HOSTS THE FOLLOWING FLAGSHIP EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: VC UNIVERSITY IS A FOUNDATIONAL CERTIFICATE COURSE ON VENTURE FINANCE, CREATED IN 2019 THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP OF NVCA, VENTURE FORWARD, AND STARTUP@BERKELEYLAW AT THE UC BERKELEY SCHOOL OF LAW. VENTURE FORWARD CO-LED THREE COHORTS IN 2024 WITH A TOTAL OF 966 PARTICIPANTS.EMERGING MANAGER OFFICE HOURS (PREVIOUSLY LP OFFICE HOURS), IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EMERGING VC FUND MANAGERS FROM NONTRADITIONAL BACKGROUNDS TO HAVE CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH LIMITED PARTNERS, EXPERIENCED GENERAL PARTNERS, AND INDUSTRY ADVISORS, AT A CURATED, FULL-DAY EVENT. VENTURE FORWARD PRODUCED TWO PROGRAMS IN 2024, SERVING 47 EMERGING MANAGERS.
  2. $96,831 spent. THE VC HUMAN CAPITAL SURVEY, POWERED BY NVCA, VENTURE FORWARD, AND DELOITTE, HAS BEEN CONDUCTED EVERY TWO YEARS SINCE 2016 AND CAPTURES CRITICAL DATA TO UNDERSTAND TALENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND THE STATE OF THE WORKFORCE IN THE U.S. VC INDUSTRY. THE SURVEY IS INTENDED TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR VC FIRMS TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO THOUGHTFULLY EXPAND AND GROW THEIR TEAMS AND PORTFOLIO. THE FIFTH EDITION OF THE SURVEY WAS FIELDED TO U.S. VC FIRMS IN 2024.

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 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 2024.

    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 December 2017.

    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.