Quick charity verification for Templeton Foundation (EIN: 133317084)
Verdict: Templeton Foundation appears trustworthy
88/100Mission Score
$7.1MRevenue
$48.0MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusual 0% reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, potentially obscuring full compensation picture.
Strengths
Consistent financial surplus, indicating sound financial management (e.g., $7,319,049 revenue vs. $6,925,320 expenses in 2023).
Stable and substantial asset base (e.g., $47,856,540 in 2023) providing long-term financial security.
Decreasing trend in liabilities over the past decade, improving financial leverage.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating regulatory transparency.
Spending Breakdown
How Templeton Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Templeton Foundation
Is Templeton Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Templeton Foundation (EIN: 133317084) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 88/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Templeton Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Templeton Foundation has a Mission Score of 88/100. Revenue: $7.1M. Assets: $48.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Templeton Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Templeton Foundation is 133317084. 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 Templeton Foundation spend its money?
Templeton Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Templeton Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Templeton Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 133317084 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 Templeton Foundation demonstrates consistent financial health with stable revenue streams averaging around $7 million annually over the past decade. The organization consistently operates with a surplus, as seen in 2023 where revenue of $7,319,049 exceeded expenses of $6,925,320. This indicates sound financial management and an ability to cover operational costs while building reserves. Their asset base has remained robust, hovering around $45-50 million, providing a strong foundation for their philanthropic activities.
Spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which is unusual for an organization of this size. This lack of reported officer compensation, while potentially indicating high efficiency in one area, also raises a minor point regarding the completeness of compensation transparency if executives are indeed compensated through other mechanisms. However, without further detail on program vs. administrative spending, a full assessment of spending efficiency is limited.
Transparency regarding executive compensation is high in the sense that no officer compensation is reported, which is a clear data point. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods further demonstrates a commitment to regulatory transparency. The stable financial position and consistent revenue generation suggest a well-managed and sustainable operation, though a more detailed breakdown of functional expenses would enhance the understanding of their spending efficiency.