Quick charity verification for Paulus Family Foundation (EIN: 200351925)
Verdict: Paulus Family Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$1.4MRevenue
$7.3MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant negative revenue in some periods (e.g., $-47,288 in 202212)
Lack of detailed expense breakdown beyond total expenses in provided data, making precise program vs. admin ratio estimation difficult without full 990 forms.
Strengths
Consistent absence of officer compensation, indicating low administrative overhead.
Very low liabilities across all recent periods, suggesting strong financial stability.
Substantial asset base ($7,628,567 in 202312) supporting grantmaking activities.
Clear history of significant grantmaking (expenses) relative to its operational model.
Spending Breakdown
How Paulus Family 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 Paulus Family Foundation
Is Paulus Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Paulus Family Foundation (EIN: 200351925) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Paulus Family Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Paulus Family Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $1.4M. Assets: $7.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Paulus Family Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Paulus Family Foundation is 200351925. 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 Paulus Family Foundation spend its money?
Paulus Family Foundation allocates 95% to programs, 5% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Paulus Family Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Paulus Family Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 200351925 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 Paulus Family Foundation exhibits a highly variable financial profile, typical of a private foundation primarily distributing grants rather than actively fundraising from the public. In the most recent period (202312), the foundation reported revenue of only $14,711 against expenses of $1,336,735, indicating significant spending from its asset base. This trend of expenses far exceeding revenue is consistent across several recent years, such as 202212 where revenue was negative ($-47,288) and expenses were $1,513,520. While this spending pattern is not inherently problematic for a foundation drawing down its endowment, it highlights a reliance on prior accumulated assets rather than ongoing operational income.
The foundation's assets have fluctuated significantly, peaking at $13,741,892 in 201512 and standing at $7,628,567 in 202312. The consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities for most recent periods suggests a very low debt burden, which is a positive indicator of financial stability. The NTEE code T20 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) aligns with its operational model. The absence of officer compensation across all reported periods indicates that the foundation's leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which can be a sign of efficiency in administrative costs, though it also warrants understanding how governance is sustained.
Given its nature as a private grantmaking foundation, the primary 'program' activity is the distribution of grants. The lack of detailed expense breakdowns beyond total expenses makes it challenging to precisely determine program spending efficiency in the same way as a public charity with operational programs. However, the consistent high level of expenses relative to minimal revenue in recent years suggests substantial grantmaking activity, which is the core function of such a foundation. The transparency is good in terms of filing history, but the lack of detailed expense categories limits a deeper analysis of administrative versus program spending beyond the assumption that most expenses are programmatic grants.