Passes our checks

San Luis Obispo Community Leadership Foundation

EIN 77-0417076 · Sn Luis Obisp, CA

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

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION INSPIRES PHILANTHROPY AND SERVES AS A CATALYST AND CONNECTOR FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 23.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

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
0 of 8
Reports no 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.
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

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

Programs described in its return (2)

$122,699 spent. CHAMBER CONTRACT - UNDER ITS CONTRACT WITH THE SAN LUIS OBISPO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP SLO WAS ABLE TO EXPAND ITS REACH INTO THE COUNTY, ATTRACTING A DIVERSE APPLICANT POOL AND SUBSEQUENT CLASS THAT REPRESENTED RESIDENTS OF 5 CITIES AND 4 UNINCORPORATED REGIONS OF SLO COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY THE CLASS WAS COMPRISED OF INDUSTRY SECTORS THAT INCLUDED: PRIVATE, AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION, NON-PROFIT, PUBLIC AND SELF-DESCRIBED STAY-AT-HOME PARENTS.
$30,257 spent. RETREAT & DAY CLASS EXPENSES - THE 3-DAY, OFF-SITE RETREAT EACH YEAR TRANSFORMS 36 INDIVIDUALS INTO A UNIQUELY CONNECTED GROUP EQUIPPED WITH TEAM BUILDING SKILLS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION TOOLS AND A HIGH TRUST FACTOR THAT PREPARES THEM FOR THE MYRIAD COMMUNITY ISSUES PRESENTED IN THE SINGLE-SUBJECT DAY SESSIONS THAT FOLLOW. EACH OF THE DAY SESSIONS ADDRESS ONE CRITICAL SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY: HEALTH, JUSTICE, MEDIA, EDUCATION, ARTS, GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURING. AN EXPERT FROM THE FIELD IS INVITED TO CREATE AN 8-HOUR AGENDA COMPRISED OF TIMELY TOPICS AND SPEAKERS ON THE DAY SESSION THEME IN ORDER TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE CLASS MEMBERS ON PEOPLE AND ISSUES SHAPING SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. THE L25 ANNIVERSARY FUND ENSURES THAT DIVERSE VOICES ARE WELCOMED TO LEADERSHIP SLO EVERY YEAR THROUGH AFFORDABLE TUITION AND AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 1996.
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 November 4, 2026.

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