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Fc Cincinnati Foundation

EIN 82-2861019 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FC CINCINNATI FOUNDATION AIMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THROUGH SOCCER.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
213

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

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (6)
  1. $1.2 million spent. LEARNING IS COOL:THE PROGRAM STARTED BACK IN 2008 BY THE MARVIN LEWIS COMMUNITY FUND (MLCF) WITH A SIMPLE MESSAGE: EARN REWARDS FOR MAKING THE HONOR ROLL. OVER THE YEARS, THESE REWARDS, NO MATTER HOW LARGE OR SMALL, HAVE HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON STUDENTS' SELF-ESTEEM AND MOTIVATION. AFTER HOLDING FOCUS GROUPS WITH THE STUDENTS MLCF LEARNED THAT THEY FEEL GOOD WHEN SOMEONE IMPORTANT LIKE AN FC CINCINNATI PLAYER RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. STUDENTS REACHING THE "A" HONOR ROLL TWO OR MORE TIMES ARE INVITED TO THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CELEBRATION HELD AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO. THIS EVENT WAS THE TRANSITION POINT FROM MLCF TO FCCF IN 2019. FCCF IS HONORED TO TAKE ON THIS PROJECT AND TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY MARVIN LEWIS CREATED WITH THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM REACHED AROUND 24,862 STUDENTS ACROSS SIXTY SEVEN SCHOOLS IN 2024.
  2. $190,671 spent. MINI PITCH:FCCF WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO REVITALIZE UNDERUTILIZED TENNIS OR BASKETBALL COURTS, TURNING THEM INTO MINI SOCCER PITCHES, AND PROVIDING KIDS WITH A SAFE SPACE TO PLAY THE SPORT. THESE MINI PITCHES ARE UTILIZED FOR FCCF AND OTHER PROGRAMMING ALONG WITH FREE PLAY FOR KIDS (AND ADULTS) IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY SERVE. IN 2024, FC CINCINNATI FOUNDATION INVESTED IN ONE MINI PITCH BUILD IN THE CINCINNATI AREA (BOOKER T WASHINGTON). THIS INCLUDES NEW PITCH BUILDS, UPGRADES TO EXISTING MINI PITCHES, AND ACCRUALS FOR FUTURE MINI PITCH BUILDS.
  3. $133,490 spent. SOCCER UNITES:THIS PROGRAM HAS TWO COMPONENTS. THE FIRST COMPONENT HAS LOCAL KIDS PARTICIPATING IN A TWELVE WEEK SOCCER CURRICULUM AND RECEIVING FREE SOCCER EQUIPMENT WHILE LEARNING TO PLAY THE GAME AND LIVE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. IN 2024, 11,610 CHILDREN WERE REACHED IN-PERSON. IN THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THE SOCCER UNITES PROGRAM, FC CINCINNATI CLUB AMBASSADOR OMAR CUMMINGS VISITS SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE REGION FOR GYM CLASS TAKE-OVERS WHERE HE AND FCCF STAFF TEACH KIDS TO PLAY SOCCER AND BUILD UPON PROGRAMMING AS KIDS IMPROVE. VISITS TAKE PLACE ONCE PER WEEK FOR A 4-6 WEEK PERIOD.
  4. $153,131 spent. WEST END SOCCER TEAM:THE WEST END PRIDE GETS KIDS FROM THE WEST END INVOLVED IN SAY EAST SOCCER. WITH COACHES, EQUIPMENT AND TEAM MANAGEMENT PROVIDED BY FCCF STAFF, KIDS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN REC LEAGUE SOCCER WITH THEIR PEERS FROM OTHER AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY. 559 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN 2024.
  5. $223,686 spent. WEST END COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SUPPORT:FC CINCINNATI FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE WEST END COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THOSE WORKING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE CAUSES.
  6. $19,733 spent. STAY IN THE GAME!:FC CINCINNATI FOUNDATION JOINED THE STATE-WIDE STAY IN THE GAME! CAMPAIGN TO TACKLE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. FC CINCINNATI FOUNDATION'S ROLE IS TO PARTNER WITH DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE ACTIVATIONS, PLAYER MESSAGES (IN-PERSON OR DIGITALLY) AND INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE BETTER ATTENDANCE.

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

    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 January 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 November 4, 2026.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Greater Cincinnati Foundation (Cincinnati, OH), EIN 31-0669700. 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.