Carolina Forward Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To conduct in depth polling of the citizens of North Carolina and to publish and disseminate educational articles on major public policy issues in North Carolina.
- Income
- $659,304
- Spending
- $490,254
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 19.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 (1)
- $370,811 spent. In 2025, the Carolina Forward Foundation expanded and broadened its mission to inform the voters of North Carolina. The Foundation reached several million North Carolina voters through its digital and offline channels with educational content about the state legislature. It helped launch Influence NC, a Gen-Z civic engagement initiative that has trained 25 elected leaders, partnered with six colleges, and generated over 6 million impressions just in its first quarter. The Foundation published "North Carolina's Next Chapter," a major research project on accommodating projected population growth, and distributed copies of this research to members and staff in the state legislature. The Foundation was again an advertising sponsor of The Hometown Holler, the fastest-growing independent media brand in North Carolina. It advocated for housing reform in the state legislature and at the county level, and helped describe and promote the importance of forward-thinking policy in making housing more affordable to more North Carolinians. It also supported The Pink Vote, a nonpartisan voter registration effort engaging Black voters in Forsyth County.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Foundation for the Carolinas (Charlotte, NC), EIN 56-6047886. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.