The Fuller Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE FULLER FOUNDATION SERVES FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THROUGH ADVANCEMENT ACTIVITIES AND ENDOWMENT MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS ITS PARTNERS, INCLUDING CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS, AND THE BROADER CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY BY BEING A TRUSTED ADVISOR IN THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
- Income
- $8.1 million
- Spending
- $8.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 38.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 67%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $313,454, sr. director of dev. & foundations
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 38.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 65% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $7.5 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OTHE SERVICES OF THE FULLER FOUNDATION BENEFIT AND CARRY OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF CHRISTIAN BASED AND OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT SUPPORT OF FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, OTHER CHRISTIAN BASED ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, AND VARIOUS DESIGNATED, RESTRICTED, OR ENDOWMENT FUNDS. THE FOUNDATION FULFILLS ITS PURPOSES THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY'S FUNDRAISING, ALUMNI RELATIONS ACTIVITIES, AND MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN ENDOWMENT FUNDS DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION MANAGES CHARITABLE TRUSTS, CHARITABLE FUNDS, DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, AND GIFT ANNUITY TYPE ACCOUNTS. PROGRAM RELATED DISTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE GIFTS AND GRANTS TO THE SEMINARY AND A BROAD BASE OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING GIFTS FROM DONOR ADVISED FUNDS. GIFTS AND GRANTS ARE PREDOMINATELY TO U.S. BASED IRS DETERMINED 501(C)(3) CHARITIES. SELECT GRANTS AND GIFTS ARE MADE TO FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE ORGANIZED FOR EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE PURPOSES. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROVIDING TRUST FIDUCIARY SERVICES TO OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A CHRISTIAN MISSION.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.