Quick charity verification for Ballard Family Foundation Inc (EIN: 203853189)
Verdict: Ballard Family Foundation Inc appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$31KRevenue
$348KAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent decline in assets over five years, from $633,141 to $348,212.
Expenses frequently exceed revenue, indicating a spend-down model without significant new capital.
Strengths
Zero officer compensation reported across all available filings, indicating efficient use of funds not allocated to executive salaries.
Minimal liabilities ($1 across all periods) demonstrating strong debt management.
Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms, indicating good transparency.
Spending Breakdown
How Ballard Family Foundation Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ballard Family Foundation Inc
Is Ballard Family Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ballard Family Foundation Inc (EIN: 203853189) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Ballard Family Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?
Ballard Family Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $31K. Assets: $348K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Ballard Family Foundation Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Ballard Family Foundation Inc is 203853189. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Ballard Family Foundation Inc spend its money?
Ballard Family Foundation Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Ballard Family Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Ballard Family Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 203853189 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
The Ballard Family Foundation Inc. appears to be a small private foundation with a consistent decline in assets over the past five years, from $633,141 in 2011 to $348,212 currently. This trend suggests that the foundation is spending down its principal, as expenses have consistently outpaced revenue in most periods, notably in 2014 where expenses were $143,485 against revenues of $46,699. The organization reports zero officer compensation across all available filings, which is a positive indicator for minimizing administrative overhead related to executive pay.
Given its status as a private foundation, its primary function is typically grant-making rather than direct program delivery, which can influence spending ratios. The consistent reporting of minimal liabilities ($1 across all periods) indicates strong financial stability in terms of debt management. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories from the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The overall financial health shows a controlled reduction in assets, which might be part of a planned spend-down strategy.
Transparency is generally good, with five years of IRS 990 filings available. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a clear and positive disclosure. However, the lack of granular expense data in the provided summary limits a deeper analysis of how funds are allocated between charitable activities and overhead. Further examination of the full 990 forms would be necessary to fully understand the allocation of expenses and the foundation's grant-making activities.