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Association of Small Foundations

EIN 65-0617866 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO AMPLIFY & INCREASE THE IMPACT OF LEAN FUNDERS IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES THROUGH INFORMED GIVING. WITH MORE THAN 1,500 MEMBERS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE US, WE ARE A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY CONNECTED PHILANTHROPY LEADERS, DONORS & FUNDERS WITH LEAN OPERATIONS.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
19
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$350,724, ceo

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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 56 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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, 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. $1.9 million spent. PROGRAMS: FOSTER LEARNING, COLLABORATION, AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING TO DEEPEN MEMBER EXPERTISE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN 2025, WE ENGAGED 1824 PROFESSIONALS ACROSS 22 WEBINARS, PEER CIRCLES, ROUNDTABLES, AND COHORT PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CATALYTIC LEADERSHIP IN PHILANTHROPY, RACIAL EQUITY, DISABILITY INCLUSION AND NEXT-GENERATION READINESS TAILORED FOR THE LEAN FUNDING COMMUNITY.
  2. $508,257 spent. CONFERENCE: EXPONENT PHILANTHROPY'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS THE PREMIER GATHERING FOR LEAN FUNDERS. HELD ANNUALLY, THE CONFERENCE OFFERS A UNIQUE SPACE FOR PHILANTHROPISTS TO CONNECT, SHARE EXPERIENCES, AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. IN 2025, THE CONFERENCE CONVENED ALMOST 500 PARTICIPANTS IN COLUMBUS, OH. WITH OVER 45 SESSIONS FEATURING 100+ SPEAKERS, PRESENTERS AND EXPERTS, THIS YEAR'S AGENDA SHOWCASED BOLD IDEAS AND STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE PHILANTHROPIC MISSIONS. THE EVENT FEATURES A VARIETY OF SESSIONS, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, PLENARIES, AND SITE VISITS, COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS CATALYTIC PHILANTHROPY, EQUITY-CENTERED PRACTICES, AND FOUNDATION MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS.
  3. $126,682 spent. RESEARCH: GATHERS, ANALYZES, AND SHARES DATA THAT HELPS LEAN FUNDERS AND DONORS MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS. IT PRODUCES PRACTICAL, ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS THROUGH SURVEYS, BENCHMARKING REPORTS, AND EVALUATIONS OF PHILANTHROPIC PRACTICES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP FOUNDATIONS OPERATE EFFECTIVELY, FOSTER EQUITY AND MEET COMPLIANCE STANDARDS. OUR SIGNATURE ANNUAL REPORT, WITH OVER 1000 DOWNLOADS IN 2025, THE FOUNDATIONS OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT REPORT (FOMR) OFFERS KEY INSIGHTS INTO THE LATEST TRENDS, BENCHMARKS, AND BEST PRACTICES SHAPING LEAN PHILANTHROPY.

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 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 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 February 1996.

    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.