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Cities Strong Foundation

EIN 92-2890829 · Salt Lake Cty, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO (I) CONTRIBUTE TO OR ENGAGE IN PROJECTS PROMOTING COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT, HEALTH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN CITIES, TOWNS, AND COMMUNITIES LOCATED IN THE STATE OF UTAH, (II) IMPLEMENT AND PROVIDE LIFE-SKILLS, TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO RESIDENTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF UTAH, (III) PARTICIPATE WITH, CARRY OUT AND SUPPORT THE "MY HOMETOWN" INITIATIVE IN THE STATE OF UTAH, (IV) SUPPORT COMMUNITIES, LOCAL UTAH GOVERNMENTS AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WITH SERVICE INITIATIVES CONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING, AND (V) ENGAGE INOTHER CHARITABLE COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS IN THE STATE OF UTAH.

Income
$564,727
Spending
$384,383
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
7.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 391% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (4)
  1. $156,830 spent. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM PRIMARILY SUPPORTS THE MYHOMETOWN (MHT) INITIATIVE IN 13 NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG UTAH'S WASATCH FRONT. CITIES STRONG FOUNDATION (CSF) CONTRIBUTED TO WEST VALLEY CITY TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT DAYS OF SERVICE ACTIVITIES IN WEST VALLEY CITY, ASSISTED IN REPAIRING A FIRE DAMAGED RESIDENCE IN THE ROSE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, PROVIDED 100 SEWING MACHINES AND 100 KEYBOARDS TO MHT FOR USE IN MHT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS, AND SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MHT TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE VOLUNTEERS AND PARTICIPANTS IN VARIOUS MHT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. DURING 2024, MHT PARTICIPATED IN 671 NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECTS THROUGH 19,035 VOLUNTEERS, WHO PROVIDED 201,733 SERVICE HOURS.
  2. $7,500 spent. CSF'S EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY 70 READING TUTOR VOLUNTEERS IN TWO SALT LAKE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TITLE I SCHOOLS. ADDITIONALLY, CSF FUNDED THE LEADER IN ME PROGRAM IN ONE PROVO SCHOOL DISTRICT TITLE I SCHOOL.
  3. $131,350 spent. CSF'S IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDED TEMPORARY EMERGENCY HOUSING TO 6 FAMILIES IN THE 4TH QUARTER OF 2024. THESE FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS. ADDITIONALLY, CSF SUPPORTED NO MORE A STRANGER (NOMAS), ANOTHER LOCAL IRC SEC 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION, IN SUPPORTING LEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN COMPLETING CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS AND PAYING CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION FEES. NOMAS ALSO HELPED IN OBTAINING PASSPORTS FOR CITIZEN CHILDREN. DURING 2024, NOMAS PROVIDED 452 LEGAL CONSULTATIONS, FILED 195 CASES, AND PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $23,000 IN GOVERNMENT FILING FEES.
  4. $18,398 spent. CSF'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM INSTITUTED EVERYDAY STRONG CLASSES (DESIGNED BY THE UNITED WAY) IN APPROXIMATELY 8 MHT COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS IN SEPTEMBER 2024 THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 50 VOLUNTEER FACILITATORS. EVERYDAY STRONG IS DESIGNED TO TEACH PARENTS AND OTHER INFLUENCERS OF CHILDREN SPECIFIC SKILLS TO HELP YOUTH THRIVE. SKILLS INCLUDE THE FOCUS ON NUTRITION, SLEEP, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY; PROVIDING A "SAFE PLACE" MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY; BUILDING CONNECTIONS, INSTILLING CONFIDENCE, AND ULTIMATELY FINDING A POSITION TO THRIVE. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 50 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM. CSF ALSO FUNDED THE SCHOOL PULSE PROGRAM IN TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

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 November 6, 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 January 2024.

    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 November 4, 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.