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Black Belt Community Foundation Inc

EIN 63-1270745 · Selma, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE ALL BLACK BELT RESIDENTS LIVE AND WORK IN HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS, INCLUSIVE, EDUCATED, CREATIVE AND GIVING COMMUNITIES. WE SERVE TWELVE COUNTIES: BULLOCK, CHOCTAW, DALLAS, GREENE, HALE, LOWNDES, MACON, MARENGO, PERRY, PICKENS, SUMTER, AND WILCOX. EACH OF THESE COUNTIES IS CONSIDERED A "PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTY" AS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE CENSUS. PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTIES ARE THOSE WHERE 20% OR MORE OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS WERE POOR, MEASURED BY THE 1980, 1990, 2000 CENSUSES, AND THE 200-11 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY. ADDITIONALLY, BBCF OFTENTIMES INVESTS IN THE FOLLOWING 13 STATES: ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA.

Income
$11.5 million
Spending
$14.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
125
Volunteers
1,380
Highest pay
$352,947, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $3.8 million spent. PROMOTING & SUSTAINING EDUCATION: THE FOUNDATION OPERATES A HEAD START PROGRAM, A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, AGES 3 TO 5, IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF THE BLACK BELT: DALLAS COUNTY, CHOCTAW COUNTY, MARENGO COUNTY AND WILCOX COUNTY. THE BBCF HEAD START PROGRAM ENSURES CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE PREPARED AND READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. HEAD START ENGAGES PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS IN POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, WITH A FOCUS ON FAMILY WELL-BEING TO PROMOTE CHILDREN'S GROWTH IN A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF SERVICES WHICH INCLUDES EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, AND FAMILY WELLBEING. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION'S REACH IN COMMUNITIES HAS MADE IT A LEADING PARTNER WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 THROUGH THE 1ST YEAR OF COLLEGE, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN WORKFORCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES
  2. $3.9 million spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS TWO PRIMARY ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP THE ECONOMY: ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND GRANTMAKING.ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY: WITH A CREDIBLE HISTORY OF SERVING AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY CONVENER, BBCF BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL RESIDENTS, BUSINESS LEADERS, EDUCATORS, LOCAL & COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS MAJOR COMMUNITY CHALLENGES, SUCH AS FOOD SCARCITY, HEALTH INEQUITY, EMERGENCY SHELTER SHORTAGES, WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, HOUSING REHABILITATION NEEDS, INEQUITABLE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING, ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY EDUCATION & CIVIC PARTICIPATION. MANY ARE FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT & PRIVATE GRANTS.GRANTMAKING: SINCE 2005, BBCF HAS MADE GRANTS TOTALING MORE THAN $18 MILLION. GRANTS ARE MADE FOR MORE THAN A DOZEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AS WELL AS EMERGING NEEDS IN OUR TWELVE-COUNTY BLACK BELT REGION AND ACROSS THIRTEEN STATES ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH.
  3. $2.7 million spent. SOUTHERN BLACK GIRLS & WOMEN'S CONSORTIUM: SBGWC IS A MULTI-YEAR INITIATIVE WHICH SEEKS TO EMPOWER AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY. BBCF IS ONE OF THREE PARTNERS WHO DEVELOP AND OVERSEE THIS PROGRAM THAT REGULARLY CONVENES PEOPLE ACROSS THE U.S. SOUTHEAST AND CONDUCTS A RANGE OF PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING GRANTMAKING AND CONFERENCES.
  4. $348,961 spent. OTHER INITIATIVES: BBCF DEVELOPS AND EXPLORES A RANGE OF INITIATIVES THAT SERVE OUR TWELVE COUNTIES, INCLUDING SERVING AS A FISCAL SPONSOR FOR FAITH & WORKS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 December 2002.

    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.