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1909 Foundation

EIN 85-2512424 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF CREATORS TO FOSTER MINDFUL INNOVATION AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$815,355
Spending
$754,326
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
5
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$64,502, executive 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 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 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (5)
  1. $329,792 spent. INCUBATOR SPACE: 1909 PROVIDES AFFORDABLE SHARED WORKSPACE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FOUNDERS IN THEIR DAY TO JOURNEY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE SPACE PROVIDES HIGH SPEED WI-FI, PRINTING, CONFERENCE ROOMS, BRAINSTORM AREAS AND A COMMUNITY OF OTHER FOUNDERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. WE SUPPORT OVER 250 MEMBERS IN OUR INCUBATOR SPACE.
  2. $146,338 spent. BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAMS: WE OFFERED A 6-MONTH, APPLICATION-BASED BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP FOUNDERS DEVELOP THEIR IDEAS INTO SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES. WE ALSO OFFER AN 8 WEEK IDEATOR PROGRAM TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS GET A NEW BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND. WE SUPPORTED 44 NEW ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. WE OFFER BUSINESS COURSES TO HELP FOUNDERS TURN THEIR IDEAS INTO REAL BUSINESSES. OUR PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON COLLABORATIVE LEARNING, WHICH IS THE EDUCATIONAL APPROACH OF USING GROUPS TO ENHANCE LEARNING THROUGH WORKING TOGETHER. THIS STYLE OF LEARNING IS PROVEN TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS, LEARN FROM PEERS WITH DIFFERENT SKILLS, BUILD TRUST, BECOME MORE ENGAGED, AND BUILD CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
  3. $56,000 spent. EVENTS & PROGRAMMING: 1909 OFFERS YEAR-ROUND EVENTS FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY. THESE EVENTS INCLUDED MASTERMIND GROUP GATHERINGS, INDUSTRY SPECIFIC MEETUPS AND TRAINING, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTION EVENTS, MENTORSHIP GATHERINGS, COLLEGE STUDENT INTROS, CO-LAB, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. WE HOSTED OUR GALA TO RECOGNIZE OUR FOUNDERS AND RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMING EFFORTS.
  4. $16,500 spent. MENTORSHIP: WE CONNECT FOUNDERS AND MENTORS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGING KNOWLEDGE SHARING TO HELP FOUNDERS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. WE RECRUITED 28 NEW MENTORS IN 2024.
  5. $15,000 spent. PROJECT 1909: A MICRO-GRANT INITIATIVE THAT ALLOWS US TO PAIR SKILLED FREELANCERS WITH SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES IN NEED TO COMPLETE PROJECTS TO HELP THE BUSINESS GROW.

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 September 2021.

    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.

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