Home › Philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking
Points of Light Foundation
Points of Light Foundation reported $26.0 million in revenue and $30.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.21 went to program services, $22.80 to management and general costs and $7.99 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $658,294 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 61% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $30MFor context, the median across 1,001 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.65 programs, $6.50 management, $1.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $26M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$53.75 $14M
- Program service revenue$43.56 $12M
- Investment income$2.69 $720K
Other revenue was negative: −$753K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.2% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 22.8% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.0% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.3% | 79.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 44.8% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $658,294 | $325,675 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.19% | 1.56% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 28 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.5 | 56.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 21 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCorporate programs:to reach our goal of doubling volunteers to 150 million by 2035, Points of Light strategically partners with companies to design and execute effective community engagement strategies. The scale and mission impact of collaborating in this way increases our efficiency and the reach of our programs. Our suite of programs including consulting services, employee volunteer initiatives, corporate learning events, and the civic 50 helps companies align business goals with community impact.we advise csr and esg leaders, deliver large-scale volunteer activations, and support…
Points of Light's program evaluation, network, and ngo programming focuses on building a stronger global volunteer ecosystem that allows our partners to mobilize and leverage volunteers effectively and sustainably to further their missions and meet community needs. Programming includes:- capacity building support for the Points of Light global network of 120 affiliate ngos in 38 countries that provide on-the-ground volunteer mobilization to support community-based organizations. This includes ongoing technical assistance, leadership development, and collaboration opportunities for…
Points of Light brings together more than 1,000 annually through programs that inspire action, deepen expertise, and elevate the value of service.- the Points of Light conference is one of the world's largest gatherings of nonprofit, government, and corporate leaders focused on civic engagement, with over 1,200 attendees annually.- the george h.w. Bush Points of Light awards honor extraordinary individuals who exemplify service and community leadership. With support from presidents carter, clinton, bush (43), and obama, this award embodies the unifying, transformative spirit of service.-…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $637,973 | $0 | $20,321 | $658,294 |
| SECRETARY/COO (THRU 10/17/25) Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $363,725 | $0 | $19,446 | $383,171 |
| CFAO Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $231,907 | $0 | $29,893 | $261,800 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM AND IMPACT OFFICER Key employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $226,673 | $0 | $15,564 | $242,237 |
| SVP DEVELOPMENT TO CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $233,006 | $0 | $8,891 | $241,897 |
| CHIEF HR OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $213,932 | $0 | $15,794 | $229,726 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $217,452 | $0 | $10,443 | $227,895 |
| SVP FINANCE (THRU 7/9/25) Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $193,398 | $0 | $14,903 | $208,301 |
28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Points of Light Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b21 · 21 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 582
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,022,441
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| COMMUNITY COUNSELLING SERVICE Fundraising consultant | $173,844 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
13 private foundations reported grants to Points of Light Foundation totaling $2.9M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Points of Light Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Points of Light Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Points of Light Foundation spent in FY2025, $69.21 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- United Way of Northeast FloridaJacksonville, FL · revenue $26M · programs 86.6% · FY2025
- The Lenfest Institute for Journalism Special Asset Fund of TpfPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $26M · programs 88.0% · 2024
- The Pimco FoundationNewport Beach, CA · revenue $26M · programs 94.6% · 2024
- Foundation for Appalachian OhioNelsonville, OH · revenue $26M · programs 72.1% · 2024
- Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic FoundationFullerton, CA · revenue $26M · programs 86.8% · FY2025
All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in Georgia
Questions people ask
How much of Points of Light Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Points of Light Foundation reported that 69.2% of its $30.0 million in expenses went to program services, 22.8% to management and general and 8.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Points of Light Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Points of Light Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $658,294, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Points of Light Foundation get its money?
Of $26.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 55.3% came from contributions and grants and 44.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Points of Light Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 65-0206641 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202631779349301273 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202542259349302479 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202442279349302569 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202342069349300524 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202232249349301973 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202141329349303404 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 65-0206641: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.