Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Catawba Valley Leadership Foundation

EIN 82-3066670 · Hickory, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceWeak35 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR EVERY PERSON LIVING IN THE CATAWBA VALLEY BY DEVELOPING, SUPPORTING, AND CULTIVATING STRONG LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$212,187
Spending
$281,041
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$42,375, foundation director

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $90,041 spent. NON-PROFIT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT-PROVIDE EXECUTIVE COACHING AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO AREA NON-PROFITS IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $81,992 spent. STRONG STUDENT LEADER-PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWTON-CONOVER SCHOOLS, INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF 20 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO HELP THEM CLARIFY THEIR IDENTITY, DISCOVER THEIR STRENGTHS AND SET THEMSELVES UP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS AS THEY PREPARE FOR LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.
  3. $21,184 spent. ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE-HOST AN ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN ORDER TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR STRONG LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP IMPACT OF ATTENDEES.

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 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 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 March 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.

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.