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Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation Inc

EIN 47-5568413 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IN ORDER TO ENVISION OHIO AS A PLACE WHERE BUSINESSES THRIVE, COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE AND STRONG, AND PUBLIC POLICY SUPPORTS ECONOMIC FREEDOM, THE OHIO CHAMBER RESEARCH FOUNDATION DOES ITS PART BY PROMOTING A HEALTHY ECONOMY IN OHIO BY EXPLORING STRATEGIES AND DELIVERING COMPREHENSIVE, OBJECTIVE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION.

Income
$610,139
Spending
$545,955
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$157,042, executive 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 92% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • 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, 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. $245,345 spent. BLUEPRINT FOR OHIO'S ECONOMIC FUTURE - THIS PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2023 AND IS CONTINUALLY REVIEWED AND UPDATED. IT REPRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE BENCHMARKING STUDY OF OHIO'S COMPETITIVENESS ACROSS KEY AREAS SUCH AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TAXATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION WITH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM GROWTH. THE RESULTS AND UPDATES ARE SHARED WITH POLICYMAKERS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO INFORM LAW-MAKING, STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND BUSINESS STRATEGY.
  2. $154,700 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM - ENABLES THE OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RESEARCH FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT OHIO COMMUNITIES AT THE INTERSECTION OF COMMUNITY NEEDS AND PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATIONS. THROUGH TARGETED FUNDING, RESEARCH-BASED INITIATIVES, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. THE FOUNDATION RESPONDS TO EMERGING CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT BOTH BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, INCLUDING NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN OHIO'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC. IN 2024, THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION ASSISTED 50+ OHIO SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY A MAJOR TORNADO, DEMONSTRATING ITS CAPACITY TO RESPOND RAPIDLY TO CRISES WHILE MAINTAINING ITS BROADER COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-BUSINESS COLLABORATION.

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 April 2016.

    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.