Consistent deficit spending: Expenses frequently exceed revenue (e.g., $3.4M expenses vs. $2.3M revenue in 2023), leading to asset depletion.
Significant decline in assets: Assets have decreased by over $8M since 2015 ($28.1M to $19.4M), indicating a draw on reserves.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown: The absence of program, administrative, and fundraising expense ratios prevents a full assessment of spending efficiency.
Strengths
Zero officer compensation: Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating a highly lean or volunteer-led executive structure.
Low liabilities: Consistently reports minimal liabilities ($0 or $1 in most recent years), suggesting sound debt management.
Substantial asset base: Despite declines, the organization still maintains a significant asset base of $19.4M, providing a buffer for operations.
Spending Breakdown
How Epstein Philanthropies 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 Epstein Philanthropies
Is Epstein Philanthropies a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Epstein Philanthropies (EIN: 132902852) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Epstein Philanthropies a good charity to donate to?
Epstein Philanthropies has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $7.7M. Assets: $18.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Epstein Philanthropies?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Epstein Philanthropies is 132902852. 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 Epstein Philanthropies spend its money?
Epstein Philanthropies allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Epstein Philanthropies's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Epstein Philanthropies's tax-exempt status using EIN 132902852 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
Epstein Philanthropies demonstrates a consistent pattern of spending more than its annual revenue in recent years, as seen in 2023 ($3.4M expenses vs. $2.3M revenue) and 2022 ($2.9M expenses vs. $710K revenue). This trend has led to a gradual decline in its asset base from a high of $28.1M in 2015 to $19.4M in 2023. While the organization reports zero officer compensation across all available filings, which is a positive indicator for minimizing administrative overhead, the sustained deficit spending raises questions about long-term financial sustainability if not supported by a clear strategy for asset utilization or future revenue growth. The lack of detailed expense breakdowns (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data limits a precise assessment of spending efficiency, but the absence of officer compensation suggests a lean operational structure at the top.
The organization's transparency regarding executive compensation is excellent, with 0% reported for officers across all periods. However, without a breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, it's challenging to fully assess how efficiently funds are being deployed towards its mission. The consistent reporting of minimal liabilities ($0 or $1 in most recent years) indicates good financial management in terms of debt. The significant fluctuation in annual revenue, from $710K in 2022 to $4.6M in 2015, suggests reliance on variable funding sources, which can impact financial stability.