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Carolinas Golf Foundation

EIN 59-1761556 · Southern Pnes, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION WAS FORMED BY THE CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION IN 1977 TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING FOR A VARIETY OF CAROLINAS-BASED GOLF INITIATIVES.

Income
$302,146
Spending
$257,595
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
39.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$241,907, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 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 (3)
  1. $251,901 spent. THE FOUNDATION'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTS STUDENTS WHO ARE ASPIRING TO BECOME GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS AND TURFGRASS MANAGERS IN THE CAROLINAS. THE CAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION UNDERWRITES GRANTS TO TURFGRASS MAJORS AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY AND NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY. INDIVIDUAL GRANTS VARIED IN VALUE UP TO $2,000. CHARLES E. LYNCH JR., CGA COUNSEL, NOTED, "THIS YEAR'S WINNERS ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL DIRECT TOMORROW'S TURF PROGRAMS. THEY WILL DISCOVER SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE TURFGRASS PROBLEMS. WE ARE PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE IN ENDOWING THIS ONGOING PROGRAM." THE CAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION FIRST OFFERED SCHOLARSHIP AID TO TURFGRASS MAJORS IN 1977. THE FOUNDATION ALSO STARTED A MORE EXPANSIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN 2020 BY GIVING $25,000 TO SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO EXCEL IN GRADE, COMMUNITY WORK AND WHO ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN GOLF. THE CAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN $1,500,000 OVER THE LAST 37 YEARS FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. A PARTIAL LIST OF THE GROUPS THE CAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED WITH FINANCIAL BACKING AND RESOURCES: CAROLINAS PGA, CHALLENGED GOLFERS NETWORK, CLEMSON SCHOLARSHIPS, CGCSA ROUND4RESEARCH, FAIRWAY OUTREACH, HARRIS YMCA, LPGA/USGA GIRLS PROGRAMS, MYRTLE BEACH JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION, NC STATE SCHOLARSHIPS, NCWGA, SEVEN FIRST TEE PROGRAMS, SALVATION ARMY PROJECT, SC JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION, SIX COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS, TRIAD YOUTH GOLF FOUNDATION, WCGA, WILMINGTON JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY, WSCGA FOUNDATION, YOUTH ON COURSE, AND GENERAL SCHOLARSHIPS.
  2. THE FOUNDATION HAS DONATED TO VARIOUS JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS INCLUDING OVER NINE CAROLINAS FIRST-TEE PROGRAMS, SEVERAL CITY-WIDE DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION, THE WOMEN'S SOUTH CAROLINA GOLF ASSOCIATION, YOUTH ON COURSE AND MANY OTHER START-UP INITIATIVES.
  3. THE CAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION ALSO CONCENTRATES RESEARCH GRANT AID AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY AND NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY THROUGH ROUNDS4RESEARCH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 1978.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Foundation for the Carolinas (Charlotte, NC), EIN 56-6047886. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.