Growth Factory
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE EARLY STAGE ENTREPRENEURS FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH ACCESS TO CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS, AND A COMMUNITY OF EXPERT RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF THEIR COMPANIES
- Income
- $497,298
- Spending
- $385,476
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 7.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $119,039, managing 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $385,476 spent. THE CITY OF ROSEVILLE AND THE GROWTH FACTORY DESIGNED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN ROSEVILLE - LOCATED IN AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE - AND TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF INNOVATIVE STARTUPS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY AND THE BROADER REGION. IN 2025, WE STRENGTHENED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY BY CONTINUING TO ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO THE DOWNTOWN SPACE FOR EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND DROP-IN COWORKING. WE'VE ALSO CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH OVER 20 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS TO MAKE THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR EVENTS LIKE WOMEN IN TECH NETWORKING, THE WESTERN PLACER WASTE MANAGEMENT PITCH SHOWCASE, 1 MILLION CUPS, BEATS LYRICS LEADERS YOUTH ENTREPRENEURIAL BOOTCAMP, CREATIVE ECONOMY FORUMS AND MUCH MORE.BUILD UP ROCKLIN, A PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GROWTH FACTORY AND THE CITY OF ROCKLIN, BEGAN PLANNING ITS THIRD COHORT TO BEGIN IN 2026. AFTER SERVICING OVER 20 ROCKLIN-BASED SMALL BUSINESSES OVER THE PREVIOUS TWO COHORTS, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED OVER 300+ HOURS OF SUPPORT VIA WORKSHOPS AND OFFICE HOURS AND $98K IN GRANTS TO 20 COMPANIES.THIS IS GROWTH FACTORY'S 3RD YEAR SERVING AS ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE AT SIERRA COLLEGE WHERE WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE SIERRA IGNITE & EMPOWER MICROGRANT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN ADVANCING THEIR BUSINESS IDEAS. TO DATE, WE'VE WORKED WITH OVER 50 STUDENTS AND FACILITATED $25,000 IN MICROGRANT FUNDING FROM THE SIERRA FOUNDATION. EXAMPLES OF OUTPUTS FROM THE PROGRAM INCLUDE A NON-PROFIT SERVICING NEURODIVERGENT ADOLESCENTS, A POP-UP SODA STORE, A FASHION BOUTIQUE SERVICING AMPUTEES, AND VARIOUS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS SERVICING THEIR COMMUNITIES, THESE STUDENTS REPRESENT FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS AND OUR INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE.
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 August 2022.
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.