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Rancho Santa Fe Foundation

EIN 95-3709639 · Rcho Santa Fe, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONNECT DONORS WITH REGIONAL AND GLOBAL NEEDS THROUGH VISIONARY COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, PERSONALIZED SERVICE AND EFFECTIVE GRANTMAKING.

Income
$33.8 million
Spending
$15.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
60.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
9
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$268,241, 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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 60.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 125% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    15 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $14.5 million spent. THE RANCHO SANTA FE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS A WIDE VARIETY OF CAUSES EVERY YEAR THROUGH GRANTS MADE FROM ITS DONOR ADVISED FUNDS AND UNRESTRICTED ENDOWMENT FUNDS. GRANTS THAT ARE FUNDED FROM DONOR ADVISED FUNDS ARE BASED ON DONOR-ADVISOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE FROM UNRESTRICTED ENDOWMENT FUNDS ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S GRANTS AND PROJECTS COMMITTEE.
  2. $109,000 spent. SUPPORTING OUR HEROES (FORMERLY THE PATRIOTS CONNECTION,) A PROGRAM OF THE RANCHO SANTA FE FOUNDATION, STRIVES TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE NEEDS OF THE MILITARY THROUGH NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. SAN DIEGO HAS THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF MILITRARY ACTIVE & RETIRED PERSONNEL IN THE NATION. IN 2024, ACTIVE DUTY, VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS BENEFITTED FROM GRANTS TO 6 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR A TOTAL OF $4,109,000.
  3. $100,000 spent. RANCHO SANTA FE FOUNDATION'S ADVANCING EDUCATION GRANT PILLAR IS FOCUSED ON UNLOCKING THE BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING NONPROFITS THAT ARE CREATING A SEAMLESS PIPELINE OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, STARTING WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CONTINUING THROUGH K-12, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.IN 2024, 2 ORGANIZATIONS EACH BENEFITTED FROM TWO YEAR, $50,000 PER YEAR GRANTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.