Charter Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide facilities and resources to charter school programs which use the Waldorf Curriculum
- Income
- $248,286
- Spending
- $243,063
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- -191 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 90
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 52% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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)
- $232,534 spent. The Foundation is a non-profit corporation formed in 1998 to raise money for the creation and ongoing support of Sebastopol Charter School. The funding for the Foundation comes principally from the pledge donations of our school families, along with various fundraising programs and events throughout the year. The Foundation holds a $4.28 million loan from the purchase and construction of the property. The Foundation leases 18 acres of the propertys 20 acres to the School and 1 acre to the Ceres Community Project. The Foundation also raises funds to benefit the School through an Annual Giving Pledge Campaign and various fundraising events throughout the year. Funds that are not granted to the School are saved and/or invested for future property improvements.Funding for the Foundation comes principally from the pledge donations of our school families, along with various fundraising programs and events throughout the year. In the 2021-2026 school year, 169 of our 197 school families collectively pledged ~$270,210 to support the Foundations mission.The Foundation makes an annual grant to the School of $150,000 and saves all additional funds raised beyond that amount for its long-term facilities needs. In this way, the Foundation ensures the Schools fiscal health is secure, there is a financial backstop in place for times of crisis and an endowment is built for the ongoing support of the Schools programs.Support of Sebastopol Charter School is support for the students and their families enrolled in the School. The School had 281 students enrolled in the 2024-2025 school year.
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 October 13, 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 January 1999.
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 October 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Southwest Charter Foundation Inc (Ft Lauderdale, FL), EIN 01-0561262. 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.