Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Columbia Community Foundation

EIN 82-1220459 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION IS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE COLUMBIA NEIGHBORHOOD OF DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO THROUGH ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.

Income
$88,584
Spending
$90,740
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$344,684, 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs.

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 13 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $82,553 spent. THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (CCF) RECEIVES FUNDING THROUGH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO'S COMMUNITY PARKING DISTRICT PROGRAM, WHOSE MISSION IS TO HELP BRING PARKING MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS TO THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOODS MOST ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY PARKING. OVER THE LAST SEVERALYEARS, CCF HAS USED THESE FUNDS TO INITIATE PLACE-BASED STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT INCLUDE NEW PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING, CORNER PLANTERS, AND CREATIVE BIKE RACKS.

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 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 June 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 2018.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Collier Community Foundation Inc (Naples, FL), EIN 59-2396243. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.