Is Margulf Foundation Legit?

Spending Breakdown

How Margulf 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 Margulf Foundation

Is Margulf Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Margulf Foundation (EIN: 132927245) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Margulf Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Margulf Foundation has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $4.2M. Assets: $279.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Margulf Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Margulf Foundation is 132927245. 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 Margulf Foundation spend its money?

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

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

You can verify Margulf Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 132927245 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 Margulf Foundation demonstrates a mixed financial picture. While it holds substantial assets, reaching $279,836,388 in the latest period, its operational revenue has been highly volatile, including a negative revenue of $-3,558,834 in 2020 and a peak of $126,764,807 in 2019. This volatility, coupled with expenses frequently exceeding revenue (e.g., $11,652,673 in expenses against $5,304,883 in revenue in 2023), suggests reliance on investment returns or prior year contributions rather than consistent operational income.

The foundation's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a positive indicator of fiscal responsibility and a potential strength in minimizing overhead related to executive pay. The significant asset base suggests a strong endowment, which can provide long-term stability despite annual operating deficits.

Transparency regarding executive compensation is excellent, with no officer compensation reported. However, the lack of NTEE code and detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data limits a comprehensive assessment of its programmatic focus and spending efficiency. Further investigation into the nature of its expenses would be necessary to fully understand its financial health and impact.

Verdict: Margulf Foundation appears trustworthy

Red Flags

Strengths