Foothills Community Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 45% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE DESERT FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY THROUGH CULTURE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
- Income
- $869,127
- Spending
- $960,754
- Spent on programs
- 45%
- Reserves
- -2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $120,000, executive 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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1545% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $284,587 spent. FCF'S DESERT FOOTHILLS THEATER PROVIDES AWARD WINNING COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTIONS, PROVIDING ADULT, YOUTH AND MULTI-GENERATION OFFERINGS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN DANCE, SONG, DRAMA AND STAGECRAFT PROVIDE A POOL OF YOUNG TALENT IN ADDITION TO THE LIFE SKILLS AND TEAM PARTICIPATION SKILLS THAT ARE TAUGHT AND NEEDED FOR EVERYDAY LIVING. DFT PERFORMS FOR OVER 10,000 EACH YEAR.
- $9,527 spent. DESERT FOOTHILLS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PROVIDES COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF VITAL COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY, GOVERNMENT, CRITICAL PUBLIC RESOURCES, EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, AND THE ARTS. THROUGH THE USE OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS, EXCURSIONS AND "HAND-ON" ACTIVITIES, DFL ACADEMY ENHANCES THE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS OF FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS. DFL ACADEMY ALSO ENGAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF ATTENDEES, ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO OPTIMIZE THEIR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION.
- $84,013 spent. LIFE LONG LEARNING'S PURPOSE IS TO OPTIMIZE THE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE BUILDING OF KNOWLEDGE. THROUGH LECTURES, DISCUSSION GROUPS, SEMINARS, DEMONSTRATIONS, CLASSES, AND "HAND-ON" EXPERIENCES, THE HOLLAND CENTER'S LIFE LONG LEARNING PROGRAM ENRICHES LIVES.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 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 June 1986.
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 November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: The Community Foundation Inc (Richmond, VA), EIN 23-7009135. 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.