Community Foundation of Nevada County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Community Foundation of Nevada County supports nonprofit capacity building, provides leadership in the area of disaster resilience, and provides philanthropic advisory services to help create and promote efforts among our community to maintain and improve the quality of life in Western Nevada County.
- Income
- $642,539
- Spending
- $203,363
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 15.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 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 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 68% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 167% 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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.
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)
- $226,895 spent. The Community Foundation of Nevada County (COFONC) advanced its charitable mission to connect people, resources, and ideas to build a healthy and vibrant Nevada County. The Foundation established core infrastructure for a permanent community foundation, including policies, accounting systems, and public communications; received and administered donor and agency funds; and provided fiscal sponsorship and technical assistance to emerging community projects. COFONC strengthened the nonprofit sector by integrating the Center for Nonprofit Leadership of the Sierra, offering workshops, coaching, and peer learning for local nonprofit leaders. The Foundation also led regional disaster readiness efforts through participation in the statewide Disaster Readiness Initiative, development of a Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) network, and continued stewardship of the Nevada County Relief Fund.Through these efforts, COFONC helped attract and manage charitable resources for community benefit, hosted public forums and Discovery Salon events engaging over one hundred residents and nonprofit leaders, and laid the groundwork for long-term local philanthropy and resilience.
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 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 December 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 October 2023.
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: Community Foundation of Elkhart County Inc (Elkhart, IN), EIN 31-1255886. 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.