Is Foss Family Foundation Legit?

Strengths

Consistent asset growth, from $513,700 in 2012 to $7,616,209 in 2024, indicating strong financial stewardship.
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting extremely low administrative overhead.
Consistently low liabilities ($0-$1) across all reported periods, indicating excellent financial stability.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Expenses generally well below revenue, indicating efficient use of funds and ability to build reserves.

Spending Breakdown

How Foss 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

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 Foss Family Foundation

Is Foss Family Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Foss Family Foundation (EIN: 20511772) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.

Is Foss Family Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Foss Family Foundation has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $4.8M. Assets: $7.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Foss Family Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Foss Family Foundation is 20511772. 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 Foss Family Foundation spend its money?

Foss Family Foundation allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Foss Family Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Foss Family Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 20511772 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 Foss Family Foundation demonstrates strong financial health, consistently maintaining low liabilities and growing assets over the past decade, from $513,700 in 2012 to $7,616,209 in 2024. The organization's revenue has fluctuated significantly, with a notable peak of $2,597,929 in 2023, indicating reliance on varying funding sources. Spending efficiency appears high, as evidenced by the consistently low expenses relative to revenue in most years, particularly in earlier periods where expenses were often less than 15% of revenue. For instance, in 2015, expenses were $16,946 against $144,601 in revenue.

The foundation's transparency is bolstered by its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, with 10 filings available. A key indicator of its operational model is the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting a volunteer-driven or very lean administrative structure. This practice contributes positively to its financial efficiency by directing more resources towards its mission. The organization's NTEE code T22 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) further clarifies its role as a funding entity rather than a direct service provider, which typically entails different spending patterns.

Overall, the Foss Family Foundation appears to be a well-managed grantmaking entity with a strong financial position and a commitment to minimizing administrative overhead, as indicated by its zero officer compensation. Its asset growth and low liabilities suggest prudent financial stewardship, making it a financially sound organization.

Verdict: Foss Family Foundation appears trustworthy

Red Flags