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Community Foundation of Frederick County Maryland Incorporated

EIN 52-1488711 · Frederick, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO CONNECTING PEOPLE WHO CARE WITH CAUSES THAT MATTER TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN FREDERICK COUNTY NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$23.6 million
Spending
$12.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 51%
Employees
20
Volunteers
174
Highest pay
$260,038, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $711,143 spent. STRATEGIC INITIATIVE GRANTS - THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IDENTIFIES COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH PERIODIC ASSESSMENTS AND, BASED UPON THESE FINDINGS, DETERMINES STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR ITS DISCRETIONARY GRANTMAKING. QUALIFIED 501C3 ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT/QUASI-GOVERNMENT ENTITIES APPLYING FOR FUNDING PROGRAMS NOT NORMALLY PROVIDED THROUGH TAX REVENUE MAY APPLY FOR STRATEGIC FUNDING. APPLICANTS PARTICIPATE IN A RIGOROUS REVIEW PROCESS CONDUCTED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S VOLUNTEER GRANTS COMMITTEE. APPLICANTS MUST BE IN GOOD STANDING WITH ALL STATE AND FEDERAL REGISTRATIONS, AND MUST PROVIDE DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR PROGRAMS, UNITS OF SERVICE, EXPECTED OUTCOMES, AND DETAILED FINANCIAL INFORMATION. REQUIRED REPORTS ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY.
  2. $3.2 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS-THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF SCHOLARSHIPS IN FREDERICK COUNTY, AND ADMINISTERS THE TRUMPOWER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CARROLL COUNTY RESIDENTS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO INDIVIDUALS PURSUING EDUCATION PAST HIGH SCHOOL, INCLUDING TWO AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, TRADE AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, MASTERS AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, AND CERTIFICATIONS. STUDENTS MAY APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS DURING ANY YEAR OF THEIR ACADEMIC CAREERS, INCLUDING NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS WHO DID NOT BEGIN THEIR POST-SECONDARY STUDIES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOL. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S VOLUNTEER SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REVIEWS ALL APPLICATIONS AND SELECTS RECIPIENTS THAT BEST MATCH THE CRITERIA SET FORTH BY THE DONOR WHEN THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND WAS ESTABLISHED. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALMOST ANY AREA OF STUDY, SOME DO NOT CONSIDER FINANCIAL NEED AS CRITERIA, AND SOME ARE RENEWABLE FOR ONE OR MORE YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, SOME SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFFERED FOR STUDENTS AGES 6 TO 17 FOR MUSIC, INSTRUMENTAL, DANCE AND VOCAL INSTRUCTION AND SOME ARE OFFERED FOR YOUTH AGES 11 TO 18 FOR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.
  3. $6.7 million spent. IMPACT AND OTHER GRANTS - THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS GRANTS FROM FIELD OF INTEREST, DONOR-ADVISED AND DESIGNATED FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY DONORS WHO WANT TO CREATE IMPACT AND SUPPORT THEIR FAVORITE CAUSES. FIELD OF INTEREST FUND FOUNDERS SPECIFY GENERAL AREAS FOR THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO DIRECT ITS GRANTMAKING, BUT NOT SPECIFIC NONPROFITS. DONOR-ADVISED FUND FOUNDERS RECOMMEND GRANTS FROM THEIR FUNDS, WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAVING FINAL APPROVAL. GRANTS FROM DESIGNATED FUNDS SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY CAUSES IDENTIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT EXECUTED WHEN THE DONOR ESTABLISHED THE FUND WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. ALL GRANTEES MUST BE IN GOOD STANDING WITH ALL STATE AND FEDERAL REGISTRATIONS AND SOME MUST PROVIDE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE IMPACT OF THEIR PROGRAMS AND REPORTS TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 May 1987.

    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 November 4, 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.