Transparency of Colorado foundations
Candid’s GlassPockets initiative identifies the following rationale for improving foundation transparency:[1]
Establishes Credibility & Increases Public Trust
Transparency Improves Grantee Relationships
Transparency Lessens Redundancy & Increases Collaboration
Transparency Builds a Community of Shared Learning
More than half of Colorado’s largest non-operating foundations host websites to inform the public of their activities. Specifically, websites for 51 of the largest 100 foundations were located (see table A4 in the full report’s Appendix for website addresses). This openness is impressive given reports that “90% of U.S. Foundations don't have websites,” although smaller foundations are much less likely to maintain a visible online presence.[2] Developing and maintaining a website is less likely in the absence of professional staff. There is also a fairly minor tradeoff between the increased costs of more complicated websites and additional grantmaking.
That said, the depth of information available on these websites varies widely. Some foundation websites simply communicate the organization’s mission statement, while others use the website as a repository of information about the foundation’s activities and impact. Many foundation websites serve as a venue to communicate the process to apply for grant support or to inform the public that the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. For sources of private foundation financial information, see the following.
Where can Financial and Programmatic Information on Colorado’s Private Foundations be Found?
If available, the foundation’s website should be the first stop for information. In the absence of a website or posted materials, the IRS Form 990-PF can either be requested from the foundation directly or located in a number of publicly-accessible repositories. Two prominent providers of the IRS Form 990-PF include the following, where you can search based on a number of criteria including the foundation name:
Nonprofit Explorer (ProPublica)
Tax Exempt Organization Search (Internal Revenue Service)
To gain familiarity with the form itself, consider reviewing Candid’s resources on “Demystifying the 990-PF.”
While online transparency varies widely for Colorado’s foundations, many foundations are using websites to effectively communicate the mission and activities of the organization. The following table, table 9, presents just a few examples identified during this project.
