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French-American Cultural Foundation

EIN 52-2109476 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IDENTIFY, PROMOTE AND EXPAND ACADEMIC, CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC RELATIONSHIPS LINKING FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES. WE DO THIS THROUGH ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS, EVENTS, TRIPS AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY BY ENABLING INTRODUCTIONS PERTINENT TO THE FRENCH-AMERICAN RELATIONSHIP.

Income
$655,993
Spending
$484,418
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$108,333, president

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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, 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 (1)
  1. $403,615 spent. THE FRENCH-AMERICAN CULTURAL FOUNDATION EXTENDED, EXPANDED OUR MISSION OF PROMOTING THE FRENCH-AMERICAN RELATIONSHIP THROUGH VARIOUS CULTURAL PROGRAMMING WITH PROMINENT INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES, VERSAILLES SPECTACLES, INSTITUT MARIE CURIE, LYFE INSTITUT, THE HOUSTON BALLET, MERIDIAN INTERNATIONAL CENTER, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS, THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE, THE US EMBASSY IN PARIS, THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS, AND MOUNT VERNON AMONG OTHERS. THE YEAR'S WORK AND PROGRAMS ENTAILED WORKING WITH EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS, IDENTIFYING NEW PARTNERS AND ELEVATING THE FOUNDATION'S WORK WITH THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE TO ALLOW FOR BROADENING OF OUR AUDIENCES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC. WE WORKED WITH THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LAFAYETTE AND THE CONSUL GENERAL OF FRANCE IN TEXAS TO SUPPORT THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF GEN. LAFAYETTE'S FINAL TOUR OF THE US, CULMINATING IN PLANNING THE PRESENTATION OF THE LAFAYETTE-WASHINGTON AWARD FOR CULTURAL DIPLOMACY TO BE GIVEN IN 2025. THE AWARD WILL BE GIVEN TO BOTH A FRENCHMAN AND AN AMERICAN INSTRUMENTAL IN PRESERVING THE FRANCO-AMERICAN LEGACY. FOR THE 4TH YEAR, F-ACF BROUGHT A GROUP OF 35+ AMERICANS TO PARIS AND VERSAILLES, CULMINATING IN THE ROYAL OPERA OF VERSAILLES ANNUAL GALA. IN RECOGNITION, WE WERE GIVEN A PLACE ON THEIR HONORARY HOST COMMITTEE AND A SPEAKING ROLE. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE INSTITUT CURIE IN THEIR GROUND-BREAKING CANCER RESEACH, AND SUPPORT THEIR FUNDRAISERS IN BOTH WASHINGTON, DC AND NYC BY OUR ESTABLISHED NETWORK. TOGETHER WITH OUR 20 FRANCE BASED PARTNERS AND 20 US PARTNERS, WE IDENTIFY AD THEN DEVELOP PROGRAM CONTENT. OUR ONGOING PROJECTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: PLANNING THE SECOND IN THE SAVOIR FAIRE & INNOVATION SERIES, TO BE PRESENTED IN HOUSTON, WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE FRENCH EMBASSY TO PLAN PROGRAMMING TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSAY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND PLAN THE FIRST LAFAYETTE-WASHINGTON AWARD FOR CULTURAL DIPLOMACY DINNER.

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 1998.

    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.