Passes our checks

Houston City College Foundation

EIN 74-1885205 · Houston, TX

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

What it says it does

HCC FOUNDATION EMPOWERS HCC STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT, ALIGNED WITH KEY HCC INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

Independent board
25 of 25
24 of 24 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.
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 August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$1.5 million spent. STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND ENDOWMENTS: THE HCC FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED THOUSANDS OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING HCC STUDENTS. OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ARE RAPIDLY EXPANDING, AND WE EXPECT TO AWARD MANY MORE SCHOLARSHIPS TO HOUSTON-AREA STUDENTS IN THE COMING YEARS. THE FOUNDATION'S LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO BUILD A SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT SUFFICIENT TO AWARD A SCHOLARSHIP TO ALL HCC CREDIT-HOUR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE AS THEY BEGIN THEIR COLLEGE CAREER.
$6.7 million spent. CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT:THE HCC FOUNDATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SELECTED HCC PROGRAMS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.FACULTY GRANTS AND AWARDS:THE HCC FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES OUR FACULTY MEMBERS' KEY ROLE IN ACHIEVING HCC'S MISSION. WE SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS BY PROVIDING GRANTS FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ADVANCE STUDENT LEARNING AT HCC. MANY FACULTY PROPOSALS REQUEST THE FOUNDATION'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PROJECTS TO ENHANCE HCC LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 August 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 November 1976.
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.

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