Quick charity verification for Benson Family Foundation (EIN: 203039538)
Verdict: Benson Family Foundation appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$865KRevenue
$13.8MAssets
0Red Flags
5Strengths
No red flags identified.
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in leadership costs.
Maintains substantial assets ($13,791,332 in 2023) relative to annual expenses, ensuring long-term stability.
Reports zero liabilities across all available filings, demonstrating a very healthy balance sheet.
Consistent growth in assets over the past decade, from $12.0M in 2014 to $13.7M in 2023.
Revenue frequently exceeds expenses, allowing for asset growth and sustained grantmaking capacity.
Spending Breakdown
How Benson Family Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Benson Family Foundation
Is Benson Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Benson Family Foundation (EIN: 203039538) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Benson Family Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Benson Family Foundation has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $865K. Assets: $13.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Benson Family Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Benson Family Foundation is 203039538. 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 Benson Family Foundation spend its money?
Benson Family Foundation allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Benson Family Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Benson Family Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 203039538 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 Benson Family Foundation demonstrates strong financial health, consistently maintaining substantial assets relative to its annual expenses. In 2023, the foundation reported assets of $13,791,332 against expenses of $779,388, indicating a robust endowment that supports its grant-making activities. The foundation's revenue has fluctuated over the years, with a notable increase to $1,467,895 in 2023, significantly exceeding its expenses for that period. This suggests effective management of its investment portfolio or other income-generating activities.
Spending efficiency appears high, as the foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. With no liabilities reported in any of the recent filings, the foundation operates with a very clean balance sheet. The NTEE code T20 typically refers to grantmaking foundations, and without detailed program expense breakdowns, it's assumed the majority of expenses are direct grants.
Transparency is generally good given the consistent filing history and clear financial statements showing no liabilities and zero officer compensation. However, a more detailed breakdown of program versus administrative expenses would further enhance transparency, as the provided data only gives total expenses. The consistent growth in assets over the past decade, from $12,077,027 in 2014 to $13,791,332 in 2023, also points to sound financial stewardship.