Is The Roberto Foundation Legit?

Red Flags

Inconsistent annual financial performance with significant deficits in multiple years (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2015) where expenses exceeded revenue.
Unusually consistent 0% reported officer compensation for an organization with over $65 million in assets, which may obscure actual executive remuneration structures.
Significant year-over-year fluctuations in expenses (e.g., $1,072,617 in 2022 to $4,202,536 in 2023) without clear explanation in the provided data.

Strengths

Strong and consistent growth in assets, increasing from $27.5 million in 2011 to $65.8 million in 2023, indicating long-term financial stability.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a commitment to minimizing executive overhead or a reliance on volunteer leadership.
Significant surpluses in multiple years (e.g., 2022, 2021, 2019, 2014) demonstrating capacity for effective revenue generation and expense management in those periods.

Spending Breakdown

How The Roberto Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

10%

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 The Roberto Foundation

Is The Roberto Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Roberto Foundation (EIN: 201688777) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is The Roberto Foundation a good charity to donate to?

The Roberto Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $19.9M. Assets: $73.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for The Roberto Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Roberto Foundation is 201688777. 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 The Roberto Foundation spend its money?

The Roberto Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

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

You can verify The Roberto Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 201688777 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 Roberto Foundation demonstrates a fluctuating financial performance over the past decade, with significant swings in both revenue and expenses. For instance, in 2023, the organization reported expenses of $4,202,536 against revenues of $2,459,985, indicating a deficit for that period. Conversely, in 2022, revenues of $5,369,409 significantly outpaced expenses of $1,072,617, leading to a substantial surplus. The foundation's assets have shown consistent growth, increasing from $27,556,161 in 2011 to $65,854,356 in 2023, suggesting a strong underlying financial base despite annual fluctuations. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates a high degree of transparency regarding executive pay and a potential reliance on volunteer leadership or a different compensation structure not captured in this metric, which is a positive sign for donor confidence.

While the asset growth is robust, the variability in annual financial outcomes warrants closer examination. The foundation experienced deficits in 2023, 2020, and 2015, where expenses exceeded revenues. However, these periods are balanced by years of significant surpluses, such as 2022, 2021, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011. The latest reported revenue of $19,853,334 and assets of $73,655,720 (outside of the detailed annual filings) suggest a larger operational scale than some of the individual annual filings might imply, indicating potential for significant program impact. The consistent 0% officer compensation is a strong indicator of financial prudence and transparency in executive remuneration.

Given the available data, The Roberto Foundation appears to be financially stable due to its growing asset base, but its operational efficiency, particularly in managing annual expenses relative to revenue, could be more consistent. The lack of officer compensation is a significant positive for transparency and efficient use of funds. To fully assess spending efficiency, a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses would be necessary, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the overall trend of asset accumulation suggests long-term financial health and capacity to fulfill its mission.

Verdict: The Roberto Foundation appears trustworthy