Sacramento Region Community Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Sacramento Region Community Foundation leads, serves, and inspires enduring philanthropy for a just and vibrant Sacramento region.
- Income
- $46.8 million
- Spending
- $34.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 81.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $303,812, 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 81.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $18.2 million spent. Donor Advised and Unrestricted Grantmaking: Since the Sacramento Region Community Foundation was founded in 1983 by local leaders, we have been a primary provider of philanthropic services. Like other place-based community foundations across the United States and around the world, the Foundation promotes philanthropy that is visionary, strategic, and inclusive, making it a catalyst for transforming the region. The Foundation manages hundreds of charitable funds for local families, businesses, and nonprofits. Thanks to the generosity of its donors who are pivotal partners in its work to transform and enrich California's capital region, the Foundations annual grant awards to nonprofit organizations from its charitable funds have grown from over $272,000 in 1983 to over $13 million in 2024.(Continued on Schedule O) The Foundation's grants have totaled more than $250 million since the Foundation's inception, making us, alongside our fundholders, a leading Grantmaker in the region. Guided by our mission, we are moving the capital area forward in the areas where we know strategic philanthropy can be a catalyst for change. For the past nine years, we have led efforts, through four Strategic Initiatives: 1) to grow local giving and build nonprofit capacity, 2) close gender and racial gaps in access to higher education, 3) strengthen the food system that feeds our region's hungry, and 4) foster a vibrant creative ecosystem. Our leadership in these areas reflects our vision for a flourishing Sacramento region, one marked by inclusivity and equity, and pride in our community.
- $9.8 million spent. Expanding Philanthropy and the Social Economy: This Strategic Initiative leads to a more generous region by promoting individual philanthropy through such activities as Big Day of Giving and the GivingEdge regional nonprofit database, creating stronger nonprofits through leadership development, donor stewardship and fundraising, and advancing collaboration among nonprofit organizations. For example, Big Day of Giving, the annual giving day that has generated more than $100 million from generous donors for hundreds of local nonprofits since its inception in 2013, is a yearlong, communitywide movement to make philanthropy accessible to everyone in the capital region. In 2024, the Foundation provided robust training and collaboration opportunities to over 800 participating nonprofits.(Continued on Schedule O) As a result, 28,000 donors made more than 57,000 gifts through Mighty Cause, the online database that powers Big Day of Giving, and raised $13.2 million during the 2024 giving day.
- $1.7 million spent. The Foundation manages over 50 scholarship funds, which were established by local individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. Our scholarships provide tuition assistance and recognition to local students as they strive to achieve a wide range of goals through the pursuit of higher education.Each scholarship fund has its own unique criteria for selecting recipients, including academic achievement, financial need, educational and career goals, and community involvement. Annual scholarship awards range from $500 to $10,000 and may be used for accredited academic and vocational training programs. In 2024, the Foundation awarded over $1 million to more than 400 students.
- $518,502 spent. Leadership Statement: Together with our fundholders, the Foundation is proud to elevate philanthropy and its impact in our region. For over 40 years, the Foundation has helped our collective giving make the greatest positive impact throughout the four counties we serve: El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo. We do this by focusing on the underlying causes of local challenges, seeking solutions with lasting results, and supporting the organizations that tend to the vital needs of the capital area -- after all, creating the conditions for meaningful transformation is our specialty at the Foundation. With your support, the Foundation is proud to elevate philanthropy and its impact in our region. If you believe as we do that working together to forge upstream solutions is the best way to strengthen our region, join our work and learn more at www.sacregcf.org.
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
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 2024.
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 December 1983.
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.