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Arlington Community Foundation

EIN 54-1602838 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE EXIST TO IDENTIFY AND ELEVATE THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO ATTRACT AND DEPLOY CHARITABLE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS. ACF STEWARDS THE GIFTS AND CHARITABLE LEGACIES OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO MEET NEEDS IN ARLINGTON AND BEYOND.

Income
$16.5 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
87.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
8
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$280,919, 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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 87.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 118% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

    15 of 15 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 (2)
  1. $4.1 million spent. ARLINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY GRANTMAKING INCLUDES BOTH DISCRETIONARY AWARDS ALIGNED WITH OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND GRANTS MADE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DONORS THROUGH FIELD-OF-INTEREST AND DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS. INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND BUSINESSES USE THE FOUNDATION AS A PLATFORM TO EXPLORE AND IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN CHARITABLE GOALS, SUPPORTED BY STAFF GUIDANCE AS DESIRED. OUR DISCRETIONARY GRANTMAKING PRIMARILY SUPPORTS DEMONSTRATION PILOTS AND INITIATIVES THAT MITIGATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. KEY AREAS OF WORK INCLUDE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE. OUR ROLE IS TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUSINESSES, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO SCALE COMMUNITY-CENTERED SOLUTIONS. THROUGH THIS DUAL APPROACH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND DONOR SERVICES, WE ALIGN PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES WITH HIGH-IMPACT, LOCALLY DRIVEN EFFORTS.
  2. $582,169 spent. ARLINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS A WELL-ESTABLISHED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT MAKES AWARDS TO APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY GENEROUS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF WHOM ESTABLISH NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS TO HONOR LOVED ONES, EMPLOYEES, OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. DONORS DEFINE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, SUCH AS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, FINANCIAL NEED, ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT, OR COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHILE THE FOUNDATION'S SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE MANAGES THE SELECTION PROCESS, ENSURING BROAD OUTREACH AND EQUITABLE REVIEW ACROSS A DIVERSE APPLICANT POOL. IN ADDITION, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND SUPPORT A GENERAL POOL OF AWARDS THAT RESPOND FLEXIBLY TO STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATED NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS. THIS PROGRAM EXPANDS ACCESS TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR ARLINGTON-AREA STUDENTS AND REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY'S COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

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 March 1992.

    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.

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