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Southern California Grantmakers

EIN 95-2831058 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS (SCG) IS THE REGIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PHILANTHROPISTS AND GRANTMAKERS WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE A LEADERSHIP HUB FOR OUR MEMBERS TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER, (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O)IMPROVE THEIR GRANTMAKING AND AMPLIFY THEIR INDEPENDENT EFFORTS THROUGH COLLABORATIVE WORK. OUR MEMBERS INCLUDE CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS, FAMILY FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUAL PHILANTHROPISTS, AND PRIVATE, INDEPENDENT, OPERATING COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AS WELL AS GRANTMAKING 501(C)(3)'S.SCG CONNECTS GRANTMAKERS ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH SECTOR-WIDE CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND FUNDER CONVENINGS: PROVIDING SPACE FOR COLLABORATION AND COORDINATED ACTION ON CRITICAL ISSUES. WE SUPPORT AND ADVANCE EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE GRANTMAKING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD IN EIGHT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COUNTIES: LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, KERN, RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNADINO, SAN LUIS OBISPO, SANTA BARBARA, AND VENTURA.

Income
$27.0 million
Spending
$36.6 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
34
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$456,910, 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (2)
  1. $34.7 million spent. EDUCATION & PARTNERSHIPS: EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS, WEBINARS AND COMMUNICATIONS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS. COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS, BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, AND INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES SERVED.
  2. CONFERENCES: COMPREHENSIVE, FOCUSED CONVENINGS TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDE SPECIFIC ISSUE AREA TRENDS AND BEST PRACTICES.

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 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 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 1983.

    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.

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