Is Mozilla Foundation Legit?

Strengths

Strong and consistent revenue growth, more than tripling from $20.5M in 2017 to $64.6M in 2023.
Significant asset accumulation, growing from $33.4M in 2017 to $124.1M in 2023, indicating robust financial health.
Expenses consistently well below revenue, demonstrating efficient financial management and sustainability.
Low liabilities relative to assets, indicating a strong balance sheet and minimal financial risk.
Extensive filing history (13 filings) provides good transparency into historical financial performance.

Spending Breakdown

How Mozilla 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 Mozilla Foundation

Is Mozilla Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Mozilla Foundation (EIN: 200097189) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.

Is Mozilla Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Mozilla Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $37.2M. Assets: $123.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Mozilla Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Mozilla Foundation is 200097189. 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 Mozilla Foundation spend its money?

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

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

You can verify Mozilla Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 200097189 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 Mozilla Foundation demonstrates strong financial health and growth, with its assets consistently increasing over the past decade, reaching $124,157,331 in 2023. Revenue has also shown significant upward trends, more than tripling from $20,586,446 in 2017 to $64,660,933 in 2023. The organization maintains a healthy financial position with liabilities consistently being a small fraction of its assets, indicating good fiscal management and low financial risk. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a unique governance structure or that compensation for key personnel is handled through a related entity, which warrants further investigation for complete transparency.

Regarding spending efficiency, the Mozilla Foundation consistently spends less than its revenue, allowing for asset accumulation and future program investment. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $39,845,284 against revenues of $64,660,933. While specific breakdowns of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses are not provided in the summary data, the overall financial health suggests a capacity to fund its mission effectively. The consistent growth in assets and revenue indicates a sustainable operational model.

Transparency is generally good given the availability of 13 years of IRS 990 filings. However, the lack of reported officer compensation on the 990s is a notable point. While this could be due to a specific organizational structure where executives are compensated by a related taxable entity (like Mozilla Corporation), it does create a gap in understanding the full compensation picture for leadership directly from these filings. Further detail on how expenses are categorized (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) would enhance the transparency report.

Verdict: Mozilla Foundation appears trustworthy

Red Flags