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North Carolina Community Foundation Inc

EIN 58-1661700 · Raleigh, 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

THE NCCF IS THE SINGLE STATEWIDE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SERVING NORTH CAROLINA AND WAS CREATED IN 1988 TO BUILD CAPACITY THROUGH PHILANTHROPY. THE NCCF ADMINISTERS OVER 1,300 COMPONENT FUNDS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SUPPORT OF A BROAD RANGE OF OUR DONORS' PHILANTHROPIC GOALS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY NEEDS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON UNDERSERVED AREAS. AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE NCCF'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT RURAL PHILANTHROPY HAS A VOICE AT LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

Income
$143.7 million
Spending
$45.0 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
47
Volunteers
1,201
Highest pay
$331,829, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 69% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 200% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 March 31, 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 (6)
  1. $26.8 million spent. HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC AND SOCIETAL BENEFIT: DISBURSED 2,045 GRANTS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT DISASTER RECOVERY AND PREPAREDNESS, VOLUNTEERISM, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL COMMUNITIES.
  2. $6.9 million spent. EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS: DISBURSED 983 GRANTS TO ASSIST NORTH CAROLINIANS IN PURSUIT OF THEIR ACADEMIC GOALS AT VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING LIBRARIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. STUDENTS STUDIED A WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES, APPLICATIONS, AND OUR SELECTION PROCESS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.NCCOMMUNITYFOUNDATION.ORG.
  3. $2.3 million spent. ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES: DISBURSED 319 GRANTS TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES, INCLUDING ARTS COUNCILS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS, AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS.
  4. $866,563 spent. THE NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SERVES AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA NETWORK OF GRANTMAKERS, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATE-GIVING PROGRAMS AND DONOR ADVISED FUNDS THAT GRANT TO NORTH CAROLINA CHARITABLE CAUSES. THE NETWORK IS SUSTAINED BY GRANTS FROM OTHER FOUNDATIONS, AS WELL AS SERVICE REVENUE. FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, THE NETWORK GENERATED SERVICE REVENUE OF $335,023 FROM MEMBERSHIP INCOME, CONFERENCE/SEMINAR REGISTRATION PAYMENTS, AND FEE-FOR-SERVICE REVENUE.
  5. $4.4 million spent. THE NCCF IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CORPORATIONS THAT SERVE AND SUPPORT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA. WE HOLD FUNDS AND ADMINISTER GRANTS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CORPORATE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.
  6. PURPOSE STATEMENT AND PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHO WE ARE THE NCCF IS THE SINGLE STATEWIDE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SERVING NORTH CAROLINA AND WAS CREATED IN 1988 TO BUILD CAPACITY THROUGH PHILANTHROPY. THE NCCF ADMINISTERS NEARLY 1,300 COMPONENT FUNDS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SUPPORT OF A BROAD RANGE OF OUR DONORS' PHILANTHROPIC GOALS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY NEEDS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON UNDERSERVED AREAS. AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE NCCF'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT RURAL PHILANTHROPY HAS A VOICE AT LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT NCCOMMUNITYFOUNDATION.ORG. NCCF MISSION OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE NORTH CAROLINIANS TO MAKE LASTING AND MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE SUCCEED THROUGH A UNIQUE STATEWIDE NETWORK OF AFFILIATES THAT LEVERAGES THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP TO EFFECT MEANINGFUL CHANGE THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA. WE BUILD PARTNERSHIPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR STATE THROUGH MEASURABLE, SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES THAT BENEFIT ALL CITIZENS. OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE SUPPORTS STEWARDSHIP THROUGH OUR TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WHAT WE DO FOR DONORS DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2025, DONORS GAVE OVER $119 MILLION TO THE NCCF TO HELP CARRY OUT THEIR CHARITABLE GOALS AND INTENTIONS. THE NCCF OFFERS ITS DONORS MANY VEHICLES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES, INCLUDING: UNRESTRICTED FUNDS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS DESIGNATED FUNDS DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS NAMED FUNDS ORGANIZATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUNDS CORPORATE FUNDS NCCF OPERATING FUNDS METHODS OF GIVING CAN INCLUDE CASH GIFTS, SECURITIES, REAL ESTATE, TESTAMENTARY GIFTS, LIFE INSURANCE AND CHARITABLE REMAINDER OR LEAD TRUSTS. BY POOLING FUNDS AND LEVERAGING THE POWER OF AGGREGATE FUND ADMINISTRATION, THE NCCF ENABLES DONORS TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THEIR GIFTS AND ENSURES PERMANENT RESOURCES FOR SPECIFIC CHARITIES AND CAUSES. THE NCCF ALSO HELPS TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL DOLLARS STAY LOCAL. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO NCCF DONORS INCLUDE: CHOICE PERMANENCE TAX DEDUCTIONS SECURITY PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY COMMEMORATION SIMPLICITY AND CONVENIENCE VALUE FOR COMMUNITIES AS OF MARCH 31, 2025, THE NCCF PARTNERED WITH 57 AFFILIATE FOUNDATIONS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR LOCAL NEEDS ACROSS THE STATE. THESE COMMUNITY AFFILIATES ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE LEGAL ENTITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATEWIDE NCCF. COMMUNITY AFFILIATES ARE COMPRISED OF LOCAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS WHOSE PRIMARY ROLES ARE TO INSPIRE LOCAL PHILANTHROPY, CONDUCT GRANTMAKING, AND SERVE AS CATALYSTS AND CONVENERS FOR PRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE NCCF PROVIDES STAFF SUPPORT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RECORD-KEEPING AND DATABASE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS EXPERTISE IN THE AREAS OF INVESTMENTS, LEGAL MATTERS, BOARDSMANSHIP, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. SPONSORED PROGRAMS WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GIVING GROUPS AND NETWORKS, WOMEN IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE CAN DIRECT THEIR CHARITABLE INTERESTS IN FOCUSED, PURPOSEFUL AND STRATEGIC WAYS. LIKE VOLUNTEERISM, PHILANTHROPY IS A COLLECTIVE ENDEAVOR. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THESE FUNDS ARE MORE STRATEGIC IN APPROACH, THEY ALLOW MEMBERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND PROBLEMS AT THE SOURCE. THE NCCF CONTINUES ITS LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING WOMEN AS PHILANTHROPISTS AND HAS WORKED TO ESTABLISH WOMEN'S GIVING GROUPS TO SERVE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHILE CONTINUING TO BUILD THE STATEWIDE WOMEN'S FUND OF NORTH CAROLINA. NORTH CAROLINA NETWORK OF GRANTMAKERS THE NORTH CAROLINA NETWORK OF GRANTMAKERS IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATE-GIVING PROGRAMS AND DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS THAT GRANT TO NORTH CAROLINA CHARITABLE CAUSES. THE NETWORK'S PRIMARY PURPOSES ARE TO SERVE AS A FORUM FOR SHARING INFORMATION, LESSONS LEARNED AND EXPERIENCES; AND TO FACILITATE COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION AMONG NORTH CAROLINA GRANTMAKERS. THE NETWORK HELPS NORTH CAROLINA GRANTMAKERS BUILD CLOSER PEER RELATIONSHIPS, GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO NORTH CAROLINA, CREATE A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITY IN THE STATE AND COORDINATE GRANTMAKING EFFORTS. CURRENTLY THE NETWORK MANAGES PEER GROUPS AROUND EQUITY AND INCLUSION, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PHILANTHROPY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGING LEADERS, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. FOR MORE INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS OF SPECIFIC AFFILIATE PROGRAMS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, ARE OUTLINED ON OUR WEBSITE AND IN THE NCCF 2025 IMPACT REPORT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.NCCOMMUNITYFOUNDATION.ORG

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 June 1986.

    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.