Is Johnson Street Foundation Legit?

Quick charity verification for Johnson Street Foundation (EIN: 137579596)

Verdict: Johnson Street Foundation appears trustworthy

75/100Mission Score

$28.7MRevenue

$55.5MAssets

3Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Highly volatile revenue, making operational sustainability difficult to predict (e.g., $21M in 2015 vs. $495K in 2021).
Consistent reporting of only $1 in liabilities across all filings, which is highly unusual and may indicate incomplete financial disclosure.
Frequent years where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2013), suggesting reliance on non-operating income or prior reserves.

Strengths

Significant asset growth from $9.5M in 2011 to $55.4M currently, indicating strong long-term financial management or investment performance.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a commitment to minimizing executive overhead or a volunteer-driven leadership.
Ability to maintain and grow assets despite periods of operational deficits, demonstrating financial resilience.

Spending Breakdown

How Johnson Street Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

70%

Program Spending

Below average — room for improvement

20%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

10%

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 Johnson Street Foundation

Is Johnson Street Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Johnson Street Foundation (EIN: 137579596) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Johnson Street Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Johnson Street Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $28.7M. Assets: $55.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Johnson Street Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Johnson Street Foundation is 137579596. 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 Johnson Street Foundation spend its money?

Johnson Street Foundation allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Johnson Street Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Johnson Street Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 137579596 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 Johnson Street Foundation exhibits a highly volatile financial history, with revenue fluctuating dramatically over the past decade. While the latest reported revenue is $28,735,509, this figure is largely influenced by a single high-revenue year in 2015 ($21,429,738) and a recent spike in 2023 ($3,146,665), contrasting sharply with several years of sub-$1 million revenue. The organization consistently reports minimal liabilities ($1), which is unusual and could indicate incomplete reporting or a unique financial structure. Assets have grown significantly from $9,571,275 in 2011 to $55,456,736 currently, suggesting effective asset management or substantial investment gains, despite inconsistent operational revenue.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a notable positive for transparency and could indicate a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under other expense categories. The foundation's ability to maintain and grow assets while often operating at a deficit (expenses exceeding revenue in multiple years, e.g., 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2013) warrants further investigation into its funding model, potentially relying heavily on investment income or large, infrequent grants.

The lack of reported officer compensation is a strong indicator of transparency regarding executive pay. However, the extremely low reported liabilities ($1) across all filings raises questions about the completeness and accuracy of financial reporting in this specific area. A more detailed breakdown of expenses beyond total expenses would be necessary to fully evaluate spending efficiency and program focus. The significant asset growth despite revenue volatility suggests a strong financial foundation, but the operational sustainability relies heavily on understanding the source of its funding beyond annual revenue.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.