Is Sulzberger Foundation Inc Legit?

Quick charity verification for Sulzberger Foundation Inc (EIN: 136083166)

Verdict: Sulzberger Foundation Inc appears trustworthy

85/100Mission Score

$2.0MRevenue

$23.6MAssets

2Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Consistent decline in assets over the past decade, from $28.8M in 2011 to $24.7M in 2023, indicating distributions exceeding investment returns.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided summary makes precise efficiency assessment difficult.

Strengths

Substantial asset base of $24,719,318 in 2023 provides strong financial stability for grant-making.
Consistently minimal liabilities (often $1) indicate excellent financial health and low debt.
0% reported officer compensation across all filings suggests highly efficient executive oversight or volunteer leadership.
Consistent grant-making activity, with expenses regularly exceeding revenue, demonstrating active fulfillment of its mission as a private foundation.

Spending Breakdown

How Sulzberger Foundation Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

90%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

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 Sulzberger Foundation Inc

Is Sulzberger Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Sulzberger Foundation Inc (EIN: 136083166) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Sulzberger Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?

Sulzberger Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $2.0M. Assets: $23.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Sulzberger Foundation Inc?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Sulzberger Foundation Inc is 136083166. 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 Sulzberger Foundation Inc spend its money?

Sulzberger Foundation Inc allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

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

You can verify Sulzberger Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 136083166 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 Sulzberger Foundation Inc. appears to be a grant-making private foundation, given its consistent pattern of expenses significantly exceeding revenue in most years, drawing down on its substantial asset base. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $2,036,184 against revenue of $233,088, and in 2022, expenses were $1,823,932 against revenue of $632,360. This indicates a strategy of distributing funds from its endowment rather than relying solely on annual contributions.

The organization demonstrates strong financial health in terms of its asset base, which stood at $24,719,318 in 2023, providing a solid foundation for its grant-making activities. Its liabilities are consistently minimal, often reported as $1, which is a positive indicator of financial stability and low debt burden. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that the foundation is either volunteer-run at the executive level or that compensation is handled through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which is a notable point for efficiency.

Transparency appears to be good through its regular IRS 990 filings. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses (e.g., program services vs. administrative vs. fundraising) within the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The consistent decline in assets over the past decade, from $28,808,521 in 2011 to $24,719,318 in 2023, suggests a sustained level of distributions exceeding investment returns, which is typical for a foundation actively fulfilling its mission.

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Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.