Quick charity verification for Metlife Foundation (EIN: 132878224)
Verdict: Metlife Foundation appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$295.3MRevenue
$106.5MAssets
0Red Flags
3Strengths
No red flags identified.
Strengths
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating high efficiency in executive pay.
Substantial and actively managed assets, demonstrating long-term financial capacity for grant-making.
Consistent philanthropic spending, with expenses ranging from $30M to $44M annually over the past decade, indicating active program engagement.
Spending Breakdown
How Metlife Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
95%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
5%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Metlife Foundation
Is Metlife Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Metlife Foundation (EIN: 132878224) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 0 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Metlife Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Metlife Foundation has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $295.3M. Assets: $106.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Metlife Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Metlife Foundation is 132878224. 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 Metlife Foundation spend its money?
Metlife Foundation allocates 95% to programs, 5% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Metlife Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Metlife Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 132878224 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
Metlife Foundation demonstrates a consistent commitment to its programmatic mission, as evidenced by its historical spending patterns. While specific program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the foundation's primary function as a grant-making entity suggests that the vast majority of its expenses would be directed towards programs. The foundation's assets have fluctuated over the years, from a high of $196,282,331 in 2015 to $127,111,548 in 2023, indicating active grant-making and investment management. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a lean operational structure or that compensation is handled by the parent MetLife entity, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence regarding executive pay.
The foundation's revenue has shown significant variability, with a peak of $68,248,126 in 2021 and a low of $26,476,837 in 2020. Despite these fluctuations, the foundation has consistently maintained substantial assets, allowing it to continue its philanthropic activities. The latest filing for 2023 shows expenses exceeding revenue ($37,662,198 vs. $27,890,465), which is not uncommon for foundations that draw from their endowments to fulfill grant commitments. Overall, Metlife Foundation appears to be a financially stable and program-focused organization, with good transparency regarding executive compensation.