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Leonard & Beryl Buck Foundation

EIN 94-6485668 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LEONARD AND BERYL BUCK FOUNDATION IS A CHARITABLE TRUST THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1979 TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS FOR NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS OR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Income
$62.8 million
Spending
$42.6 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs.

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 2 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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)
  1. $40.7 million spent. WELLS FARGO BANK ("WFB"), AS INVESTMENT TRUSTEE, ADMINISTERS THE TRUST AND MANAGES THE TRUST'S INVESTMENTS. AS REQUIRED BY THE COURT ORDERS, THE INVESTMENT TRUSTEE MADE DIRECT DISTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUCK INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON AGING, ALCOHOL JUSTICE, AND THE BUCK INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION (DBA PBL WORKS), WHICH TOTALED IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,233,343 FOR THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR. MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ("MCF"), AS DISTRIBUTION TRUSTEE, DISTRIBUTED TRUST FUNDS TO CHARITABLE RECIPIENTS, WHICH TOTALED IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,477,270 FOR THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR. GRANTS BY THE DISTRIBUTION TRUSTEE WERE MADE THROUGHOUT MARIN COUNTY TO SUPPORT MCF'S FOUR STRATEGIC INITATIVES, AS WELL AS THE NINE COMMUNITY GRANT AREAS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ARE: CLOSING THE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT GAP, DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCREASING THE ECONOMIC SECURITY AND UPWARD MOBILITY OF POOR AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, AND ACTING AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE IN EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. ISSUE AREAS BEING SUPPORTED UNDER THE COMMUNITY GRANTS AREAS ARE IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION, SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS, COMMUNITY HEALTH, LEGAL SERVICES, ARTS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ARTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND ACCESS TO PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 February 1980.

    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 October 21, 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.