Climb Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The purpose of the corporation is to further economic development to promote and assist in the growth and development of business concerns and to engage in those activities which are in furtherance of or related to those purposes
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 58.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 67%
- Employees
- 37
- Highest pay
- $173,376, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 58.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 million spent. Lending ProgramsBusiness builder loans, SBA Microloan Program, small business loan program, real estate loans, line of credit, and Quick Recovery Loan programs provide funding to eligible businesses within the organization's service area to meet most needs that those businesses may have. although the LDC does not compete with the commercial lenders, it works in collaboration with the local banks and all small business reources in the community.
- $639,513 spent. Technical Assistance ProgramCoupled with its loan products, the organization provides both pre-loan counseling to prospective applicants and intensive post-loan developmental services to its borrowers. Such assistance occurs in various forums: one-on-one counseling, group sessions, workshops, seminars, classes, exhibitions, and site visits. Many of the group sessions are conducted in collaboration with local community resources such as SBDC, SCORE, or the SBA, just to name a few. Throughout the year, the Organization responded to 286 new loan inquiries, and over 1,900 entrepreneuers received some level of technical assistance. Of the total assisted, 282 individuals received information by attending one or more of the 31 seminars, workshops, or networking sessions offered.The organization views its one-on-one technical assistance as critical to providing a foundation for success and offers such assistance through several vehicles of delivery to include consultant team, staff, and its community resources. The consultant team allows the Organization to provide specialized training by offering bookkeeping and QuickBooks training and business counseling through its site visit program. During the year, 73 businesses have received almost 586.5 hours of specialized training.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.