Declining asset base over time, from $1,729,418 in 2013 to $973,885 in 2024, indicating reliance on endowment drawdown.
Strengths
Zero executive compensation reported across all filings, indicating volunteer leadership and low overhead.
Consistent transparency with regular IRS 990 filings.
Minimal liabilities reported, often $1, suggesting sound debt management.
Spending Breakdown
How Stephen L Altshul Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 Stephen L Altshul Foundation
Is Stephen L Altshul Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Stephen L Altshul Foundation (EIN: 136159069) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Stephen L Altshul Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Stephen L Altshul Foundation has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $289K. Assets: $1.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Stephen L Altshul Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Stephen L Altshul Foundation is 136159069. 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 Stephen L Altshul Foundation spend its money?
Stephen L Altshul Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 15% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Stephen L Altshul Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Stephen L Altshul Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 136159069 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 Stephen L Altshul Foundation demonstrates consistent financial transparency through its regular IRS 990 filings. The organization's financial health, however, shows a pattern of expenses frequently exceeding revenue in recent years, leading to a gradual decline in assets from $1,729,418 in 2013 to $973,885 in 2024. For example, in 2023, revenue was only $9,704 while expenses were $110,078. This trend suggests the foundation is primarily spending down its endowment rather than generating sufficient new income to cover its operational and programmatic costs. The absence of officer compensation across all reported periods indicates a volunteer-driven leadership, which is a positive sign for minimizing administrative overhead.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program vs. administrative expenses within the provided data. However, the consistent 'Officer Comp=0%' is a strong indicator of low executive overhead. The foundation's liabilities have remained minimal, often reported as $1, which suggests sound financial management in terms of debt. The NTEE code T20 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations) implies its primary activity is grantmaking, and the spending patterns would ideally reflect significant distributions to other charitable causes.
Overall, while the foundation is transparent with its filings and avoids executive compensation, its long-term financial sustainability is a concern given the consistent deficit spending. The significant asset base still allows for continued operations, but the trend of declining assets warrants attention. Further analysis of the specific program expenditures would be necessary to fully evaluate its impact and spending efficiency.