Quick charity verification for Carl C Icahn Foundation (EIN: 133913393)
Verdict: Carl C Icahn Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$4.7MRevenue
$138.1MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant revenue volatility, including negative revenue in 2016, which could indicate reliance on unpredictable investment performance.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided summary, limiting a full understanding of resource allocation.
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in executive pay.
Maintains substantial assets (over $138 million), providing strong financial stability and capacity for future giving.
Expenses are generally a small fraction of revenue and assets, suggesting conservative and efficient spending.
Strong asset base provides a significant endowment for long-term philanthropic activities.
Spending Breakdown
How Carl C Icahn 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 Carl C Icahn Foundation
Is Carl C Icahn Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Carl C Icahn Foundation (EIN: 133913393) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Carl C Icahn Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Carl C Icahn Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $4.7M. Assets: $138.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Carl C Icahn Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Carl C Icahn Foundation is 133913393. 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 Carl C Icahn Foundation spend its money?
Carl C Icahn Foundation allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Carl C Icahn Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Carl C Icahn Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 133913393 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 Carl C Icahn Foundation demonstrates a strong financial position with substantial assets, consistently over $138 million in recent years, peaking at over $200 million in earlier periods. The foundation's revenue has fluctuated significantly, from a high of $25.7 million in 2020 to a negative revenue in 2016, indicating reliance on investment performance or large, infrequent contributions rather than consistent operational income. Despite these fluctuations, expenses have generally remained a small fraction of assets, suggesting a conservative spending approach relative to its endowment size. The foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a positive indicator of efficiency and dedication of resources to its mission rather than administrative overhead.
Spending efficiency appears high, with expenses in the latest period (2023) at $564,812 against revenue of $3,944,453, indicating a significant portion of revenue is retained or used for program services. The absence of reported officer compensation further enhances its efficiency profile. However, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency across these categories is challenging. The foundation's substantial asset base provides a strong buffer and capacity for future philanthropic activities.
Transparency is generally good given the availability of 990 filings. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is a strong point for transparency regarding executive pay. However, the lack of detailed expense categorization (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided summary limits a deeper analysis of how funds are allocated. Further scrutiny of the full 990 forms would be necessary to fully assess the breakdown of spending and overall operational transparency beyond the high-level financial figures.