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Horizon Foundation of Howard County Inc

EIN 52-2119011 · Columbia, 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 HORIZON FOUNDATION WORKS SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH COMMUNITY TO BUILD POWER, ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGE, AND DISMANTLE STRUCTURAL RACISM TO ACHIEVE BETTER HEALTH FOR EVERYONE IN HOWARD COUNTY AND GREATER MARYLAND.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 98%
Employees
11
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$548,536, president & ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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. $2.1 million spent. COMMUNITY BUILDING-HORIZON FOUNDATION CARES PASSIONATELY ABOUT OUR HOWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY AND WE CANNOT DO OUR WORK ALONE. WE RECOGNIZE TRUE SYSTEMIC CHANGE TAKES TIME, AND WE WORK WITH PARTNERS TO BUILD THE BASE, CREATE POLICY WINS AND CATALYZE SUSTAINED MOVEMENTS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE COLLABORATE WITH AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND GRANTEES IN DOING THIS WORK THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT THEY DEEM IMPORTANT. WE STRIVE TO BRING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FROM AROUND THE REGION, COUNTRY AND WORLD TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS LOCALLY. FROM STRENGTHENING EFFECTIVE POLICIES TO EXPANDING CRITICAL SERVICES AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ANNUAL MEETING, HORIZON FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE BETTER HEALTH FOR EVERYONE IN HOWARD COUNTY.
  2. $1.5 million spent. GRANT MAKING-SINCE 1998, HORIZON FOUNDATION HAS INVESTED $81 MILLION IN PUBLIC HEALTH, FUNDING OVER 415 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND WORKING WITH PARTNERS ON ISSUES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTH CARE ACCESS, HEALTHY AGING AND MORE. AS OF 2024, THE FOUNDATION IS PROVIDING GRANTS IN ALIGNMENT WITH ITS THREE NEW STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS: DEMAND AN EQUITABLE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, INCREASE AFFORDABILITY AND BUILD WEALTH AND DISMANTLE STRUCTURAL RACISM THROUGH COMMUNITY BUILDING. THOUGH OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS AND TACTICS HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, OUR FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR HOWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO FACE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING GOOD HEALTH. THE HORIZON FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING HEALTH THROUGH INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES, COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, STRATEGIC GRANTMAKING AND THOUGHTFUL ADVOCACY. THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO COMMITTED TO PRACTICING TRUST-CENTERED PHILANTHROPY A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO GRANTMAKING THAT IS ROOTED IN SHARED VALUES AND TRUE PARTNERSHIP WITH GRANTEES, WHERE GRANTEES NOT ONLY PROVIDE INPUT BUT CO-CREATE PROGRAMS AND POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT ACHIEVE OUR JOINT VISION OF SOCIAL CHANGE. WE FUND COMMUNITY NONPROFITS WHO CAN IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND WORK TOWARDS HEALTH EQUITY. IN ADDITION, WE STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DISMANTLE LONGSTANDING BARRIERS TO GOOD HEALTH FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO ADVANCE MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.

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 November 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.