Landmark Columbus Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Landmark Columbus Foundation cares for celebrates and advances the cultural heritage of Columbus Indiana and like-minded communities through design excellence as civic practice. The organization works in four focus areas: Civic Design Institute Progressive Preservation Exhibit Columbus and Monumental Gestures.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $152,500, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 61% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (4)
- $391,718 spent. Progressive Preservation cares for the buildings landscapes and works of art that define Columbus's modern legacy. Through research conservation documentation and public education the program supports the long-term stewardship of Bartholomew County's cultural resources.
- $330,997 spent. Civic Design Institute defines and shares the discipline of design excellence as civic practice. The program supports research planning and field-building work that connects Columbus's experience to other communities. In 2025 this work was supported in part by the Lilly Endowment Inc. Leadership Grant administered through Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County.
- $300,193 spent. Exhibit Columbus tests design excellence in public. Through a recurring cycle of conversations symposia and free site-responsive installations the program engages residents students and visiting designers with the architectural and civic legacy of Columbus Indiana. The program completed its fifth public cycle in 2025.
- $60,831 spent. Monumental Gestures applies LCFs civic design approach in Indianapolis and other cities addressing public memory monuments and shared civic space. In 2025 the program advanced Asking the Monument a project reimagining Monument Circle in Indianapolis in partnership with Merritt Chase with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 February 2020.
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 October 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Columbus Foundation (Columbus, OH), EIN 31-6044264. 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.