Private Foundation Service
Foundation Governance Review
Comprehensive assessment of your foundation's operational health. Governance, compliance, distributions, excise taxes, and 990-PF readiness.
$2,000
Fixed price. One clear scope. One clear deliverable.
What We Review
- Core excise tax compliance status and exposure
- Filing status verification and post-determination obligations
- Governance documents (bylaws, articles, bylaws amendments)
- Distribution requirement analysis and timeline verification
- Investment policy review and performance tracking
- Board practices and governance structure assessment
- Grantmaking compliance (self-dealing, jeopardy investments, taxable expenditures)
- 990-PF review and preparation readiness
What You Get
- Executive summary with Green/Yellow/Red health score
- Detailed findings organized by excise tax category and risk area
- Prioritized action plan with timelines and ownership
- Resource recommendations and next-step guidance
- 30-day follow-up call to discuss findings and answer questions
How It Works
1. Information gathering
We provide a request list—governing documents, recent tax filings, board minutes, distribution records, and a questionnaire about governance practices. You provide what you have (don't worry if something is missing).
2. Comprehensive review
We analyze everything through a foundation governance lens. We're looking for compliance gaps, governance weaknesses, operational inefficiencies, and anything that might create risk.
3. Written report with action plan
You get a detailed report with findings organized by risk area, a health score (Green/Yellow/Red), and a prioritized action plan. Plain language—no jargon.
4. Debrief call
We schedule a 30-minute call to walk through the report, answer questions, and discuss next steps.
Who This Is For
Existing foundations
You've been operating for a while and want to understand your operational health. Is everything working? Are there gaps or risks you're not aware of?
Board members and trustees
You want confidence that the foundation is operating correctly. You need to understand your compliance obligations and whether the foundation is meeting them.
Inherited foundations
You're not sure what's working and what isn't. A review gives you a baseline understanding before deciding on a larger transition engagement.
Before working with others
You're considering hiring advisors or making changes. A governance review gives you the information you need to make smart decisions.
About the Price
$2,000 is a fixed price for a clear scope. You're not paying hourly. You're not guessing what the final cost will be. You know exactly what you'll pay for a comprehensive review.
This is also priced so it can be paid directly from foundation funds as a qualified administrative expense.
If the review uncovers areas that need deeper work—like building out governance structures, implementing new grantmaking processes, or managing a full transition—those are separate engagements. But the review itself is clean, fixed scope, fixed price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the health score mean?
Green means you're in good compliance shape. Yellow means there are findings that need attention but nothing critical. Red means there are compliance issues or gaps that require immediate action. The report explains what each finding means and why it matters.
How long does the review take?
We typically complete the review within 2–3 weeks. You'll get the written report, then we schedule a 30-minute call to walk through findings and answer your questions.
Do I need to hire someone to implement the findings?
Not necessarily. Many findings can be resolved by the board or staff with the guidance in our report. For others—like governance document amendments or complex tax questions—we'll flag that you may need outside counsel or a specialist.
What if I find serious compliance problems?
That's what this review is for. We identify problems early so you can fix them before they become worse. The action plan we provide will prioritize the most urgent items and give you a clear path forward.
Is this review confidential?
Yes. This is consulting work—the findings are between you and us. You decide what to share with your board, family, or any advisors.
Can you help me implement the recommendations?
Yes. After the review, you can book Advisory Calls ($275/hr) for specific implementation questions, or move to the Foundation Management Retainer (starting at $1,500/mo) for ongoing support.
Related Articles
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Read more →Private Foundation Annual Compliance Checklist
Every filing deadline, distribution requirement, and governance task your foundation needs to complete each year.
Read more →Understand Your Foundation's Health
Book a free consultation to discuss what a governance review would cover for your foundation.
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