Polk State College Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
POLK STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION WORKS IN TANDEM WITH POLK STATE COLLEGE TO HELP IT MEET ITS HALLMARKS AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY OF ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY TO HIGHER EDUCATION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SCHOLARSHIPS ARE A KEY WAY THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS AND, AS SUCH, REMAINS THE FOUNDATION'S NUMBER-ONE FUNDRAISING PRIORITY. THE POLK STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY LEADERS, AS WELL AS A STRONG MANAGEMENT TEAM TO ENSURE THAT DONATIONS ARE WISELY MANAGED AND LEVERAGED TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFIT TO THE STUDENTS. GIFTS AT EVERY LEVEL ARE APPRECIATED AND TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF POLK STATE STUDENTS. SOME STUDENTS, INDEED, NEED HELP PAYING FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TUITION, WHILE OTHERS SIMPLY NEED HELP WITH THE COST OF A BOOK TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TAKING A CLASS AT POLK.
- Income
- $3.6 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 52%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $199,236, 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
Good: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (1)
- $2.5 million spent. THE POLK STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION ASSISTS MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH AWARDING MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS. THE MAJORITY OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ARE DONOR DIRECTED AND HELP LIFT UP STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE POPULATION. FIRST GENERATION, ALLIED HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY, ATHLETICS, THE ARTS AND EMERGENCY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF DONOR DESIGNATIONS. IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS, THE FOUNDATION HAS A POPULAR ELEMENTARY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHERE AT LEAST ONE GRADUATE OF EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN POLK COUNTY IS AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND POLK STATE UPON GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HELPS TO ELEVATE THE COLLEGE THROUGH AN ENDOWED TEACHING CHAIR PROGRAM THAT HONORS DISTINGUISHED FACULTY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)POLK STATE COLLEGE HAS BEEN FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FOUNDATION FOR FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGY.
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
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 December 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 1983.
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.