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Community Foundation of Henderson County Inc

EIN 56-1330792 · Hendersonville, NC

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

HELPING PEOPLE WHO CARE MAKE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO CAUSES THAT MATTER, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HENDERSON COUNTY IS A HIGHLY VISIBLE, PHILANTHROPIC LEADER DIRECTED BY AN ENGAGED AND COMMITTED BOARD, STAFFED BY QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES, EMPOWERING DONORS AT ALL LEVELS TO INVEST IN PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED CHARITABLE FUNDS THAT ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS.

Income
$20.5 million
Spending
$10.9 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
20.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
10
Volunteers
72
Highest pay
$245,237, president/ce

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 20.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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. $9.4 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1982, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HENDERSON COUNTY SERVES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY RECEIVING, MANAGING, DISTRIBUTING FUNDS FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES, AND CONSULTATION ON CHARITABLE PROGRAMS TO FULFILL DONOR'S WISHES. CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE POOLED AND INVESTED, SO THAT THE INCOME PROVIDES A PERMANENT SOURCE OF GRANT MONIES FOR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS THROUGH BOTH COMPETITIVE AND NON- COMPETITIVE PROCESSES WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF GRANTS BEING NON- COMPETITIVE, INCLUDING DESIGNATED AND DONOR ADVISED GRANTS. GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO 389 ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF SERVICES. GRANTS ARE CATEGORIZED INTO NINE PROGRAM AREAS: ANIMAL CARE, ARTS AND CULTURE, CIVIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, FAITH BASED NEEDS, AND OTHER. THE FOUNDATION USES STRATEGIES ON CONVENING COMMUNITY INTEREST; ENGAGE LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON COMMUNITY ISSUES. 68 DISASTER GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO 48 NONPROFITS AND 137 BUSINESSES WERE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE. FOUNDED IN 1982, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HENDERSON COUNTY SERVES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY RECEIVING, MANAGING, DISTRIBUTING FUNDS FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES, AND CONSULTATION ON CHARITABLE PROGRAMS TO FULFILL DONOR'S WISHES. CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE POOLED AND INVESTED, SO THAT THE INCOME PROVIDES A PERMANENT SOURCE OF GRANT MONIES FOR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS THROUGH BOTH COMPETITIVE AND NON- COMPETITIVE PROCESSES WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF GRANTS BEING NON- COMPETITIVE, INCLUDING DESIGNATED AND DONOR ADVISED GRANTS. GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO 389 ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF SERVICES. GRANTS ARE CATEGORIZED INTO NINE PROGRAM AREAS: ANIMAL CARE, ARTS AND CULTURE, CIVIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, FAITH BASED NEEDS, AND OTHER. THE FOUNDATION USES STRATEGIES ON CONVENING COMMUNITY INTEREST; ENGAGE LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON COMMUNITY ISSUES. 68 DISASTER GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO 48 NONPROFITS AND 137 BUSINESSES WERE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE.
  2. $575,200 spent. THE FOUNDATION WAS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED WITH FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR SCHOLARSHIP PURPOSES. OVER THE YEARS, THIS AREA OF FOCUS HAS GROWN TO NOW INCLUDE 124 SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDS. THE FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT EACH YEAR HELPS LOCAL STUDENTS PURSUE THEIR DREAMS AND GOALS AT COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND TRADE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024- 2025, ACADEMIC AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO 244 INDIVIDUALS PRIMARILY IN HENDERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. THE MAJORITY OF THE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BASED ON ACADEMIC ABILITY AND FINANCIAL NEED. HOWEVER, SOME SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS BASED ON THE DONOR'S CHARITABLE DESIRES. ACTUAL AWARDS VARY DEPENDING UPON THE AVAILABLE INCOME IN EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

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 October 13, 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 September 1982.

    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 October 21, 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.