Is Harper Family Foundation Legit? —…

Red Flags

Significant operating deficit in 2023 ($840,352), with expenses far exceeding revenue.
Highly volatile revenue figures, including multiple years with negative revenue (e.g., $-50,449 in 2022, $-154,210 in 2020).
Substantial decline in assets from over $1.3 million in 2015 to $132,568 in 2023, indicating a significant draw-down or loss.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary makes efficiency assessment difficult.

Spending Breakdown

How Harper Family Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

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 Harper Family Foundation

Is Harper Family Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Harper Family Foundation (EIN: 200406125) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Harper Family Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Harper Family Foundation has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $6K. Assets: $137K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Harper Family Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Harper Family Foundation is 200406125. 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 Harper Family Foundation spend its money?

Harper Family Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

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

You can verify Harper Family Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 200406125 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 Harper Family Foundation exhibits a highly volatile financial history, making a consistent assessment challenging. While the latest filing (202312) shows a significant increase in revenue to $1,585,019, it also reports expenses exceeding revenue at $2,425,371, resulting in a substantial deficit. This contrasts sharply with previous years, which often showed negative revenue or very low positive revenue, alongside relatively stable expenses in the $50,000-$70,000 range. The foundation's assets have fluctuated considerably, from a high of $1,337,738 in 2015 to $132,568 in 2023, indicating a significant draw-down or revaluation of assets over time. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean operational structure, which can be a positive indicator of efficiency, though it also raises questions about the source of the recent large revenue and expense figures.

The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to gauge without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the large deficit in 2023 ($840,352) suggests that current spending is not sustainable relative to its recent revenue, although it could be a one-time event or related to a large grant distribution. The consistent reporting of minimal liabilities ($1) across all periods is a positive sign of financial stability in terms of debt management. Transparency appears adequate given the availability of 990 filings, but the dramatic shifts in financial figures warrant closer scrutiny to understand the underlying operational changes.

Overall, the Harper Family Foundation's financial health is marked by extreme variability. The recent surge in activity in 2023, with high revenue and even higher expenses, represents a significant departure from its historical pattern of modest operations. While the lack of officer compensation is a positive, the sustainability of its current spending levels and the reasons behind the asset fluctuations require further investigation to fully assess its long-term viability and impact.

Is Harper Family Foundation Legit?

Verdict: Harper Family Foundation shows mixed signals