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Community Foundation for Monterey County

EIN 94-1615897 · Monterey, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE PHILANTHROPY AND BE A CATALYST FOR STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MONTEREY COUNTY.

Income
$122.7 million
Spending
$72.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
31
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$441,996, president & ceo

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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (5)
  1. $54.4 million spent. GRANT PROGRAMS - AS THE LARGEST GRANTMAKING FOUNDATION IN MONTEREY COUNTY, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT TO A WIDE-RANGE OF NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES IN THE PROGRAM AREAS OF ARTS AND CULTURE, CHILDREN AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THESE GRANTS ARE MADE THROUGH A VARIETY OF FUND TYPES, INCLUDING DONOR ADVISED, SCHOLARSHIP, DESIGNATED, FIELD OF INTEREST AND UNRESTRICTED. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES LEADERSHIP WITH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE SALINAS INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
  2. $12.1 million spent. MONTEREY COUNTY GIVES! (MC GIVES!): MC GIVES! IS A SPECIAL PROJECT OF THE MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTEREY COUNTY AND THE MONTEREY PENINSULA FOUNDATION AND WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL NONPROFIT COMMUNITY WITH AN ANNUAL YEAR-END GIVING CAMPAIGN. IN 2024, 206 ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED TO RAISE A TOTAL OF $14.3 MILLION. MC GIVES! HAS NOW RAISED AND CONTRIBUTED OVER $82.4 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE ITS INCEPTION FIFTEEN YEARS AGO.
  3. $1.5 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTEREY COUNTY (CFMC) HOLDS AND ADMINISTERS MORE THAN 95 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS THAT CREATE GREATER ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR DESERVING LOCAL STUDENTS. SCHOLARSHIPS HELP STUDENTS REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL AND GROWING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO EARN COLLEGE DEGREES MAKES A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR US ALL.
  4. $580,826 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMSSEE WWW.CFMCO.ORG FOR ALL OTHER PROGRAMS.
  5. $87,412 spent. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS CENTER FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE (CNE) WORKS WITH NONPROFIT STAFF, BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR THROUGH TRAINING, WORKSHOPS, CONSULTING AND PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF NONPROFITS, SUCH AS: NONPROFIT GOVERNANCE, DONOR DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT ISSUES SUCH AS EXECUTIVE TRANSITIONS AND LEVERAGING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THE CNE ALSO CONDUCTS LEAD (LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT), A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT MANAGERS TO INCREASE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. TO DATE, IT HAS OVER 200 ALUMNI FROM MONTEREY, SANTA CRUZ, AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES. LEAD PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE WITH HIGH-QUALITY LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING, PERSONALIZED COACHING, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRONG PEER AND ALUMNI NETWORK. IN 2024, CNES EFFORTS REACHED 200 ORGANIZATIONS OVERALL.

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 March 1966.

    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.