Washington Community Foundation

The information for Washington Community Foundation is as of the organization's most recent filing in April '22. This organization is located in Washington, IL. It has been in existence for 8 years, following its founding in 2014.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Washington Community Foundation's NTEE code is M12. The "M" tells us that the organization is classified along with Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief. The "12" tells us that the organization is involved in Fund Raising & Fund Distribution. The NTEE describes organizations in this category as those that raise and distribute funds for multiple organizations within the Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness, and Relief major group area.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to be a 501(c)(3) organization. The IRS describes these organizations as those engaged in Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Public Safety, Amateur Sports, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals work.

Perhaps the most accurate way to get a sense of what the organization hopes to achieve is by looking at its mission. The mission of the Washington Community Foundation is to benefit the residents of the Washington Illinois area, either directly or through assistance to other local charities and governmental entities. The foundation was formed in response to the devastation caused by an EF-4 tornado that ripped through the city on November 17, 2013.

Program Areas

The program area description for the general fund in Washington IL aims to benefit the residents either directly or through assistance to other local charities and governmental entities. In this fund, all revenues, support, and functional expenses that are not specifically reported by another fund or program are accounted for.

Board Governance

The Washington Community Foundation appears to be well-governed based on the information provided. The organization has a small board of 4 voting members, all of whom are independent, indicating a diverse and unbiased decision-making process. The absence of potential conflicts of interest further enhances the credibility of the organization's governance. The fact that board meetings and committee meetings are documented demonstrates transparency and accountability within the organization. This documentation allows for clear record-keeping and ensures that decisions made by the board and committees can be reviewed and evaluated in the future. The presence of a conflict of interest policy and a requirement for disclosure of conflicts further highlights the organization's commitment to ethical conduct. These policies provide guidelines for board members and staff to navigate potential conflicts and ensure that the organization's interests are prioritized. While the organization does not have a document retention policy, it is encouraging to see that they have a written whistleblower policy. This policy allows individuals to report any wrongdoing or unethical behavior without fear of retaliation, fostering a culture of integrity and accountability. Although the organization does not substantiate and review leadership or officer's salaries, the fact that they provide copies of the 990 to the board prior to filing indicates a level of transparency regarding financial matters. Overall, the Washington Community Foundation appears to be well-governed, with policies and practices in place to ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within the organization.

Grant History

Our dataset includes five years of grant history for the Washington Community Foundation. Over the course of these five years, they have awarded a total of 17 grants, with an average check size of $88,537. The organization has awarded grants in various NTEE sectors, with the majority of grants (8) going towards Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief, followed by Religion-Related (3) grants. All of the grants awarded by the Washington Community Foundation have been allocated within the state of Illinois.

Organization Growth

The Washington Community Foundation has experienced growth over the given time period. Contributions and grants received increased from $113.8K in 2014 to $251.2K in 2021, indicating an increase in support from donors. Other revenue also increased from $9.7K in 2014 to $10.8K in 2021, further highlighting the organization's growth. Additionally, the total revenue grew from $125.4K in 2014 to $262.0K in 2021, demonstrating overall financial growth. However, it is worth noting that the organization's investment income decreased from $1.9K in 2014 to $0 in 2021, which may require further investigation. Furthermore, grants paid decreased significantly from $215.2K in 2014 to $0 in 2021, suggesting a change in the organization's focus or strategy. Overall, the Washington Community Foundation has experienced growth in terms of revenue and contributions, but certain aspects such as investment income and grants paid require further analysis to fully understand the organization's growth trajectory.