Quick charity verification for Calder Foundation (EIN: 133466986)
Verdict: Calder Foundation appears trustworthy
88/100Mission Score
$29.8MRevenue
$349.2MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Highly variable revenue streams, indicating potential reliance on unpredictable income sources.
Consistent 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and could obscure actual leadership costs.
Strengths
Strong and consistently growing asset base, reaching $349,184,039.
Very low expenses relative to revenue and assets, indicating high operational efficiency (e.g., $3,951,463 expenses vs. $23,825,946 revenue in 2023).
Minimal liabilities across most years, demonstrating strong financial stability.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating good transparency practices.
Spending Breakdown
How Calder Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Calder Foundation
Is Calder Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Calder Foundation (EIN: 133466986) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 88/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Calder Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Calder Foundation has a Mission Score of 88/100. Revenue: $29.8M. Assets: $349.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Calder Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Calder Foundation is 133466986. 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 Calder Foundation spend its money?
Calder Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Calder Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Calder Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 133466986 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 Calder Foundation demonstrates strong financial health with substantial and growing assets, reaching $349,184,039 in the latest period. Its revenue streams have been highly variable, with a peak of $163,766,389 in 2012 and $31,055,328 in 2022, indicating reliance on potentially fluctuating sources, likely art sales or donations. Despite this variability, expenses have remained consistently low relative to revenue and assets, suggesting efficient operations. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $3,951,463 against $23,825,946 in revenue.
The organization's spending efficiency appears excellent, with a very low proportion of expenses compared to its overall financial activity. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable aspect of its financial structure, potentially indicating a volunteer-led executive team or compensation structured in a way not reported as officer compensation on the 990. This practice, while potentially reducing overhead, warrants further investigation to understand the full compensation structure for key personnel.
Transparency is generally good through its consistent 990 filings. However, without a detailed breakdown of program service expenses versus administrative and fundraising costs within the provided data, a precise assessment of spending allocation is challenging. The extremely low liabilities across most years (e.g., $17,390 in 2023) indicate a very stable financial position with minimal debt, further reinforcing its strong financial health.