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Trident Technical College Foundation Incorporated

EIN 57-0699317 · Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ESTABLISHED IN 1975, THE TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION EXISTS TO ADVOCATE AND RAISE FUNDS FOR THE COLLEGE TO SUPPORT THE REGION'S ECONOMY. THE FOUNDATION OPERATES INDEPENDENTLY OF THE COLLEGE AS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT CORPORATION.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
53.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
0
Volunteers
581
Highest pay
$12,540, secretary

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 53.9 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 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    55 of 55 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 (4)
  1. $512,766 spent. STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS:THE FOUNDATION MADE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO 545 AND 476 STUDENTS, TOTALING $512,766 AND $466,717 IN THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, RESPECTIVELY. SCHOLARSHIPS HELP OFFSET THE COST OF TUITION, FEES, BOOKS, CHILDCARE, AND TRANSPORTATION FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS. THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, SUPPORTED BY INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND OTHER FOUNDATIONS, ARE COMPETITIVE AND BASED ON CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE DONORS AND THE FOUNDATION. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, THE FOUNDATION ADMINISTERED A TOTAL OF 153 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, 47 OF WHICH ARE PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED. AS OF JUNE 30, 2024, THE FOUNDATION ADMINISTERED A TOTAL OF 152 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, 46 OF WHICH ARE PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED.
  2. $20,751 spent. TUITION ASSISTANCE/CREDIT COURSE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS:THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT, UP TO AN ANNUALLY BUDGETED AMOUNT, FOR FULL-TIME PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE COLLEGE TO TAKE CREDIT OR CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES AT THE COLLEGE OR OTHER ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. ALL PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, $20,751 AND $14,487 WERE AWARDED AS PART OF THESE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, RESPECTIVELY.
  3. $9,504 spent. STUDENT URGENT NEEDS FUND:THE STUDENT URGENT NEEDS FUND WAS CREATED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN GOOD STANDING WHO EXPERIENCE AN UNFORESEEN FINANCIAL EMERGENCY WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE PREVENT THEM FROM CONTINUING TO ATTEND THE COLLEGE. STUDENTS MUST MEET ALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, $9,504 AND $9,694 WAS AWARDED IN STUDENT URGENT NEEDS FUNDING ASSISTANCE, RESPECTIVELY.
  4. $627,567 spent. AWARDS AND PRIZES:THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES A VARIETY OF AWARDS AND PRIZES DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS, INNOVATION, AND LEADERSHIP AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, $8,907 AND $9,300 IN AWARDS AND PRIZES WERE PROVIDED FROM THE FOUNDATION, RESPECTIVELY.

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 November 1981.

    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.