The Catalyst Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
853869699
IRS 990-EZ coverage
2021–2024
Forms available
Form 990-EZ 2024, Form 990-N 2020
Location
Charleston, SC, USA
Phone
8437679300
Rating
58
Verdict
MIXED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Urban, Community Economic Development

Reported finances

Revenue
$35,005
Expenses
$33,183
Assets
$7,821
Liabilities
$10,000

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

3 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • CHARLES JORDAN (CHAIR/PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • CHARLES JORDAN (CHAIR/PRESIDENT)
  • REEVES SKEEN (VICE CHAIR/VP)
  • DAVID HAMILTON (SECRETARY/TREASURER)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The catalyst foundation= was established in 2021 to support and promote economic development in berkeley, charleston and dorchester counties of South Carolina. The foundation's work includes facilitating economic and workforce related research studies and strategic plans, providing related learning opportunities for current and emerging community leaders, convening community leaders around economic development issues, and supporting innovative programs and initiatives designed to advance the local economy. The foundation also works closely with other economic and workforce development organizations throughout the three-county region to expand and strengthen local job opportunities for area residents.

What it reported doing in 2024

The catalyst foundation exists to support and promote economic development in the three-county charleston, sc region. In fy24-25, the catalyst foundation provided partial funding to support the second phase of a feasibility study and sector analysis for a potential center of excellence innovation hub located in the charleston region.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 100% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

MIXED - The filed numbers largely add up and program spending has grown recently. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 23
  • Transparency & Controls: 100
  • Sustainability: 38
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 22.9%; rating input score 23
  • Program expense ratio: 24.1%; rating input score 24

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 5.2%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.24; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.28; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 10.4% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 9.7% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 22.9% of revenue deployed · 24.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: Filed governance answers
  • Accomplishments: 1 filed program accomplishment · $8K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 3 people listed
  • Consistency: 8 of 8 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 3 filed schedules
  • Filing history: 4 filing years from 2021 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 23/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 24/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 18/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 55/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 4/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 56/100.