Hartnell College Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF HARTNELL COLLEGE FOUNDATION IS TO CULTIVATE RESOURCES TO CHAMPION STUDENT SUCCESS.
- Income
- $9.9 million
- Spending
- $8.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 166
- Volunteers
- 328
- Highest pay
- $354,201, vp adv dev & ed
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 27 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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)
- $6.9 million spent. When it was established in 1979, the Hartnell College Foundation's primary focus was on raising funds for student scholarships. Today, the Foundation has expanded its support for the college and its students with resources for scholarships, facilities, workforce development, and innovative programs. Between 2006 and 2012, the Foundation completed the colleges first comprehensive capital campaign in its 85-year history, raising $12 million. The Board and committees were expanded to involve over 250 community leaders. At the end of 2012, the Foundation launched a President's Task Force. This group was comprised of 43 members representing the community and campus leadership. They oversaw a campus-wide needs assessment that identified key initiatives appropriate for private support. These initiatives were the basis of a five-year, $15 million funding plan. From 2012-2019, the Foundation far exceeded its fundraising goal of $15 million by raising $45 million, three times the original target. The Foundation recently organized another community led President's Task Force, which resulted in a funding plan for 2020-2025. The plan includes initiatives for innovative and accelerated programs, student success scholarships and internships, STEM programs and scholarships, including the Computer Science in 3 Years program and K-12 partnerships, the Salinas Valley Promise (guidance, leadership development, life skills training and scholarships for local first time college students), agriculture business and technology, nursing and health sciences, athletics, arts programs, and the expansion of higher education through regional educational centers, online education, and digital equity. The new fundraising goal is $34.1 million.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 February 1982.
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.
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.