Cougar Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENRICH STUDENTS' HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING FUNDS THAT FINANCE ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS SUCH AS CLUB ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES, TUTORIAL AND PEER COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND TRAVEL EXPENSES TO COMPETE ON LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. THESE EXPERIENCES REPRESENT THE AREAS OF BAND, CHOIR, DEBATE/FORENSICS, DRAMA, ATHLETICS, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND ACADEMIC COMPETITIVE TEAMS OR INDIVIDUAL EVENTS.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 7.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 63%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 June 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 (4)
- $447,329 spent. UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, CLOTHING/APPAREL, AND COACHING EXPENSES WERE PROVIDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF OVER 1,000 MALE AND FEMALE CLOVIS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES.UNIFORMS: $98,904EQUIPMENT: $124,337CLOTHING/APPAREL: $148,057SUPPLIES: $21,254COACHING RELATED EXPENSES: $54,777
- $162,632 spent. TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSES WERE PROVIDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC/SCHOLASTIC/ARTS COMPETITIONS. THESE TRAVEL EXPENSES INCLUDED, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, TRANSPORTATION (AIR FARES, CAR RENTALS, BUS AND VAN TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, FUELS, MEALS), TOURNAMENT AND COMPETITION ENTRY FEES AND REGISTRATIONS.COMPETITION, REGISTRATION, AND OTHER FEES: $13,203TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES AND EXPENSES: $34,147TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES: $115,282
- $430,531 spent. UNIFORMS, CLOTHING/APPAREL, FEES AND REGISTRATIONS, EQUIPMENT, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, TRAVEL, VEHICLE EXPENSE (TRUCK FOR TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT TO COMPETITIONS), AND MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM EXPENSES FOR STUDENTS ACTIVE IN CLOVIS HIGH SCHOOL'S MARCHING BAND & COLORGUARD PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OTHER MUSICAL ARTS PROGRAMS.UNIFORMS, CLOTHING/APPAREL: $26,370OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES: $161,881TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES: $201,755EQUIPMENT EXPENSES: $28,199COMPETITION, REGISTRATION, AND OTHER FEES: $3,830SUPPLIES: $8,496
- $574,011 spent. 1.)AWARDS, APPRECIATION, AND RECOGNITION OF BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR THEIR ENDEAVORS: $2,7232.)CONCESSIONS EXPENSES: $6,0273.)EQUIPMENT: $48,1804.)SUPPLIES: $31,3775.)CLOTHING/APPAREL: $50,3026.)VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND CO-CURRICULAR FUNDING ASSISTANCE: $435,402
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 1988.
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.