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Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc

EIN 52-1160561 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION, INC. (CBCF) IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN PUBLIC POLICY, RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE THAT AIMS TO HELP IMPROVE THE SOCIOECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. FOUNDED IN 1976 AND BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., CBCF ENVISIONS A WORLD IN WHICH THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS FREE OF ALL DISPARITIES AND ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE FULLY TO ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD. ITS MISSION IS TO ADVANCE THE GLOBAL BLACK COMMUNITY BY DEVELOPING LEADERS, INFORMING POLICY AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. IT IS ACHIEVING THAT MISSION BY: FACILITATING THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES; DEVELOPING STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOR THE PUBLIC; PROVIDING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES; DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH TO ADDRESS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.

Income
$25.9 million
Spending
$22.2 million
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
11.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
35
Volunteers
270
Highest pay
$376,836, pceo

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 38 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $3.1 million spent. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE/CPAR THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION, INC, (CBCF) LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE OFFERS A MYRIAD OF PROGRAMS AIMED AT BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS TO INCLUDE INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS. OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED TO AFRICAN AMERICAN EMERGING LEADERS INTERESTED IN GAINING THE FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AS WELL AS DULY COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING SOCIAL INEQUALITIES AMONG UNDERSERVED GROUPS. INTERNSHIPS ARE OFFERED IN THE SPRING AND FALL AND THE SUMMER ALONG WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING. FELLOWSHIPS ARE FOR 20-MONTHS ALLOWING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE WORKING ON CAPITOL HILL IN BOTH MEMBER OFFICES, THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO HIGH SCHOOL QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION COLLEGE STUDENTS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. CBCF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, COVERS EXPENSES FOR QUALIFIED SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, SOME SCHOLARSHIPS ARE ANNUAL, SOME OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE MULTI-YEAR GIFTS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED BASED ON A MERIT-BASED APPLICATION PROCESS.

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 October 1979.

    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.