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Fenwick Community Fund

EIN 87-2487558 · Mountain View, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceWeak40 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FENWICK COMMUNITY FUND IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CREATED ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 FOR THE BROAD-BASED PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT PROMOTES COLLECTIVE GIVING TO ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING IMPORTANT SOCIETAL ISSUES SUCH AS ACCESS TO JUSTICE, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY, FOOD SECURITY, DISASTER RELIEF, AND SLOWING CLIMATE CHANGE.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
14.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $1.6 million spent. The Fenwick Community Fund (Fund or FCF) is a public benefit community foundation created on September 1, 2021 for the broad-based public benefit of residents in the Bay Area. The Fund is a membership-based entity. The members appoint the Funds board members. As of and during the period ended December 31, 2024, the only member is Fenwick & West, LLP. Substantially all the donations received into the Fund were from partners or employees of Fenwick & West, LLP.The Fund provides grants to other nonprofit organizations.The Fund operates a donor advised fund (DAF) program. The policies of the DAF program permit future grants for charitable purposes while maximizing the donors current tax benefits. The donor contributes money or securities to the Fund and may then recommend grants from the fund. Each partner of Fenwick & West LLP can establish a DAF fund at the Fund. The Fund accepts contributions of cash and securities. The Fund has the authority to liquidate any contribution in the manner and at a time selected in its own discretion. Unless otherwise agreed between FCF and the donor, FCF is not subject to any restriction or condition with respect to liquidating any contribution, including without limitation that the contribution be retained for any length of time prior to liquidation, that the contribution be liquidated or not liquidated immediately, or that the contribution be liquidated in any particular manner or sequence. All contributions to the DAF program are irrevocable gifts and must be made without any donor restrictions to the Fund. FCF has ultimate discretion and control over all property in the Fund. All contributions to the Fund are subject to the Funds variance power, which means that at all times the Fund retains full discretion and control and that the Fund is not bound by the grant recommendations of any advisor or donor as defined.

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.

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.