Kentucky Chamber Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE IS TO UNLOCK THE POWER OF BUSINESS, ACCELERATE SOLUTIONS, AND BUILD OPPORTUNITY IN KENTUCKY.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 49
- Highest pay
- $587,726, president / ceo & secretary
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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% 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 2523 of 24 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 (1)
- $2.1 million spent. THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER FOUNDATION WAS CREATED BY THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO FURTHER ITS MISSION OF CREATING AND SUPPORTING A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN KENTUCKY. THE CHAMBER FOUNDATION HAS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN LINE WITH THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER'S VISION FOR KENTUCKY. DURING FY25, KENTUCKY CHAMBER FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS INCLUDE: LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS KENTUCKY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, NEW IN THEIR CAREERS, ATTEND EXECUTIVE LEVEL LEADERSHIP TRAINING AT NO COST TO THEM (VALUED AT $17,700 EACH). TO DATE, THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 590 PRINCIPALS WITH DONATIONS OF MORE THAN $3.2 MILLION FROM KENTUCKY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER WORKFORCE CENTER THE WORKFORCE CENTER CONVENES EMPLOYERS, EDUCATORS/PROVIDERS, AND PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITIES TO ENSURE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION EFFORTS ARE EMPLOYER DRIVEN. EDUCATION EFFORTS FOUNDATION EFFORTS FOCUS ON MIDDLE SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION THROUGH THE STATEWIDE 'CIVICS BEE' PROGRAM WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION IS WORKING TO CONNECT STUDENTS & BUSINESSES TO TEACH ABOUT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE 'BUS-TO-BUSINESS' PROGRAM. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITATIVES THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO CONTRACTS WITH THE STATE OF KENTUCKY REGARDING MULTIPLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE TALENT PIPELINE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND THE WORKFORCE CENTER PROGRAM. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO MANAGE THESE INITIATIVES.
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 January 1997.
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.