Mercer Chamber Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION IS ACTING TO ASSIST THE MERCER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH PROMOTING MERCER COUNTY BY ATTRACTING TOURISTS AS WELL AS PROVIDING EDUCATION TO THE CITIZENS OF MERCER COUNTY.
- Income
- $167,124
- Spending
- $144,691
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 25
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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.
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 (3)
- $59,580 spent. THE KENTUCKY HERITAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL KHJF IS AN EVENT THAT SHOWCASES JAZZ MUSIC THROUGH PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION. THE KHJF PARTNERS DIRECTLY WITH REGIONAL COLLEGIATE JAZZ ENSEMBLES AND THEIR FACULTY. WE PROVIDE OUR COLLEGIATE JAZZ ENSEMBLES WITH EXPANDED PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO LARGER AUDIENCES, INCLUDING THEIR MUSICAL PEERS, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL EXPOSURE OF COLLEGIATE MUSIC PROGRAMS IN KENTUCKY TO POTENTIAL STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE. THE KHJF PROVIDES JAZZ WORKSHOPS, PROMOTING MUSIC EDUCATION TO STUDENTS AND ADULTS INTERESTED IN THE JAZZ GENRE. THE KHJF HAS HANDS-ON, INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES AT THE FESTIVAL INCLUDING AN INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO FOR CHILDREN. OUR PARTICIPATING JAZZ ARTISTS FREQUENTLY DONATE AN INSTRUMENT TO A YOUNG ATTENDEE AND INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH THE YOUTH ATTENDEES TO SHARE THEIR PERSONAL MUSICAL JOURNEY AND PROMOTE MUSIC EDUCATION.
- $33,224 spent. THE PIONEER DAYS FESTIVAL IS AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL HELD IN AUGUST OF EACH YEAR. THE FESTIVAL ALLOWS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONPROFITS TO DISTRIBUTE MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS FUNDRAISE. THE FESTIVAL PROVIDES ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS EDUCATION ABOUT PIONEERS. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDES A REDUCED PRICE FOR THE PIONEER EDUCATION FOR FORT HARROD AND ATTACHED MUSEUM. LIVE MUSIC IS ALSO INCLUDED.
- $47,427 spent. LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS WORK TO EXPOSE MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING YOUTH TO OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY GIVING THEM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND HOW TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER. THE RUTH ANN BRYANT SCHOLARSHIP IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO A LOCAL STUDENT ATTENDING THE CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY HARRODSBURG LOCATION BASED ON AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE STUDENT AND REVIEWED BY THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE. THE AWARD IS BASED UPON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE STUDENT'S QUALIFICATION, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND NEED. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS PUBLICIZED THROUGH THE CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY.
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 August 2023.
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.
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.