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Passes our checks

Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation Inc

EIN 52-2278700 · Annapolis, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO "ELEVATE BLACK VOICES" WITH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL CONVERSATIONS AND RESILIENCY PLANNING FOR CLIMATE-THREATENED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HOME TO BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH GENERATIONS OF LEGACY ALONG THE WATER'S EDGE. WE MAINTAIN OUR 40-YEAR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF AFRICANS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS AS MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE REGION'S MARITIME AND SEAFOOD INDUSTRIES.

Income
$272,527
Spending
$240,391
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
2
Volunteers
66

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

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 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 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 April 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. $98,358 spent. MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, CULTURAL TREASURES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL COLLECTIONS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS. RESEARCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. ELKTONIA-CARRS BEACH PARK PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE AND EXHIBITS.
  2. $30,203 spent. "NEX-GEN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CHAMPIONS" PROGRAM AIMS TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. TO GROW THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND INSPIRE A PASSION FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AS ADVOCATES FOR EQUITABLE POLICIES FOR BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
  3. $7,589 spent. CREATED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PROVIDED ACCESS TO HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ALONG THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 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 April 2025.

    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 April 2002.

    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.