Las Positas College Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

The Las Positas College Foundation believes that affordable, high-quality education and career training are essential to the prosperity of the Tri-Valley region and its residents. Because state funding rarely covers all student and program needs, the Foundation actively secures additional resources through gifts, bequests, grants, events, and partnerships with local businesses, laboratories, educational institutions, and community organizations.A California community college education remains one of the most affordable pathways to higher education and workforce preparation. However, many students continue to face financial barriers related to textbooks, transportation, childcare, housing, food insecurity, and reduced work opportunities while enrolled. Scholarships and programmatic support remain critical to helping students persist and complete their educational goals.One of the Foundation's primary missions is to provide scholarships to deserving students. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships supporting transfer, career technical education, performing arts, STEM, athletics, veterans, re-entry students, and first-generation college students. During 2024-2025, scholarship support continued to expand through donor stewardship, investment growth, and planned giving efforts.In 2025, the Foundation received a significant estate gift of approximately $194,500 from the estate of Ken Ross to establish a new Musical Theater Award recognizing performing arts students at Las Positas College.The Foundation continued to strengthen partnerships with community and industry organizations, including UNCLE Credit Union, UC Merced, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Lam Research, and the Livermore Valley Craft Beer Foundation. These partnerships support student success, workforce development, STEM education, veterans programming, and career-connected learning opportunities.The Foundation also expanded community leadership and governance through the addition of two new members to the Board of Directors during the fiscal year.The Foundation provides financial and programmatic support in the following areas: Scholarships and Student Support Need- and merit-based scholarships Support for veterans, re-entry students, STEM students, and first-generation students Early Childhood Development Center scholarships for student parents Textbook assistance and textbook loaner support Veterans Resource Center support including textbook, technology, tutoring, and basic-needs assistanceTeaching and Learning Initiatives Faculty and staff innovation grants Professional development and enriched instructional programs Student Government textbook support Continued support for Math Jam and the RAW Center President's Scholars Program President's Speaker Series and campus inclusion initiativesSTEM and Workforce Development Support for Sandia Science Bowl and STEM-related programming Collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories Support for engineering, advanced manufacturing, and public safety programs Support for workforce and career technical education initiativesPerforming Arts and Literary Programs Scholarships and fundraising support for music, theater, dance, and arts students Support for the Literary Arts Festival, Las Po Film Festival, and student publications Support for speech and debate activities and other student enrichment opportunitiesAthletics Scholarship support for student-athletes Assistance with athletic fundraising and student engagement initiativesCommunity and Student Success Initiatives Support for Umoja, Puente, and other learning communities Support for student-centered campus events and engagement activities Collaboration with local schools and community organizations on educational outreach and enrichment opportunitiesThe Foundation remains committed to supporting Las Positas College students, faculty, and programs through phila

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 94%; rating input score 94
• Program expense ratio: 76.5%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.69 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99%; rating input score 99; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.6%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 12.12; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.4%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.8% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.5% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings