Is Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation Legit?…

Quick charity verification for Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation (EIN: 207464063)

Strengths

Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating extremely low administrative overhead.
Significant asset growth from $1.6 million in 2011 to $81 million currently, demonstrating strong financial management.
Substantial increase in expenses (grantmaking) from $29,374 in 2011 to $12,163,671 in 2023, showing growing programmatic impact.
Robust financial health with substantial assets to support future grantmaking activities.

Spending Breakdown

How Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

95%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation

Is Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation (EIN: 207464063) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $151.5M. Assets: $81.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation is 207464063. 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 Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation spend its money?

Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation allocates 95% to programs, 5% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 207464063 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 Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to its programmatic mission, as evidenced by its consistent financial activity. While the foundation experienced negative revenue in some periods, such as -$1,065,576 in 2023 and -$507,317 in 2020, these fluctuations are common for foundations primarily distributing grants from an endowment, where investment losses can impact reported revenue. The foundation's assets have shown significant growth, from $1,646,496 in 2011 to $81,020,194 currently, indicating robust financial stewardship and capacity for future grantmaking. The absence of reported officer compensation across all available filings suggests a lean administrative structure and a focus on directing resources towards its charitable objectives.

The foundation's spending efficiency appears high, with no reported officer compensation, implying that a very large proportion of expenses are directed towards program services. The substantial increase in expenses from $29,374 in 2011 to $12,163,671 in 2023, alongside significant revenue generation in other years (e.g., $63,683,885 in 2022), indicates an active and growing grantmaking operation. The foundation's financial health is robust, supported by its substantial asset base and its ability to manage significant grant distributions.

Transparency is generally good, with consistent IRS 990 filings available. The lack of officer compensation simplifies the analysis of administrative overhead, suggesting a highly efficient operational model. The foundation's NTEE code T20 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) aligns with its financial activities, primarily distributing funds rather than directly operating programs, which inherently leads to different spending patterns compared to direct service charities.

Is Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation Legit?

Verdict: Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation appears trustworthy

Red Flags