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The Palo Alto Community Fund

EIN 77-0483215 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PALO ALTO COMMUNITY FUND FOCUSES ON THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND CHANNELS CHARITABLE GIVING OF LOCAL DONORS TO EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN PALO ALTO, EAST PALO ALTO AND MENLO PARK.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
63.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
4
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$93,654, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 63.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 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 (1)
  1. $2.0 million spent. THIS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE PALO ALTO COMMUNITY FUND (PACF) WAS PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT 77 LOCAL COMMUNITY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE ADDRESSING A WIDE VARIETY OF CHALLENGES AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. THREE OF THE KEY FOCUS AREAS PACF SUPPORTED AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS SUPPORTED IN EACH FOCUS AREA THIS YEAR INCLUDED:SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY BY ENABLING NONPROFITS WHICH PROVIDE:- COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS, MENTORING AND TUTORING FOR ADULT IMMIGRANTS- HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH WITH COLLEGE PREP, TUTORING, COUNSELING, MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION- MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH WITH COUNSELING, TUTORING AND MUSIC EDUCATION- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH CHILDCARE, SCIENCE, ART AND MUSIC EDUCATION- TEACHERS WITH TOOLS FOR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND A PATH TO EQUITABLE COMPENSATION ACROSS COMMUNITIESENHANCING COMMUNITY LIFE BY SUPPORTING NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE:- SINGLE MOTHERS WITH FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORT- CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PROFESSIONAL THEATER, LITERARY DISCUSSIONS AND ART EXPERIENCES- OUR COMMUNITY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION STRATEGIES- FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH GRIEF COUNSELING AND SUPPORTUPLIFTING THE VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY ENABLING NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE:- CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND COUNSELING, ADVOCATES FOR FOSTER CHILDREN - UNHOUSED FAMILIES & INDIVIDUALS WITH SAFE SHELTER, SOCIAL SERVICES, FOOD, MOBILE HYGIENE AND A PATH TO PERMANENT HOUSING- SENIORS WITH TECHNOLOGY FOR CONNECTING WITH OTHERS, MEALS AND SOCIAL SERVICES- LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH RENT RELIEF, LEGAL SERVICES AND MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE- ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WITH JOB TRAINING, HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND ANIMAL THERAPY

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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