Is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation Legit? —…

Quick charity verification for The Thomas J Edelman Foundation (EIN: 133762804)

Spending Breakdown

How The Thomas J Edelman 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

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 Thomas J Edelman Foundation

Is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Thomas J Edelman Foundation (EIN: 133762804) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation a good charity to donate to?

The Thomas J Edelman Foundation has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $24.5M. Assets: $28.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for The Thomas J Edelman Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Thomas J Edelman Foundation is 133762804. 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 Thomas J Edelman Foundation spend its money?

The Thomas J Edelman Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 133762804 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 Thomas J Edelman Foundation demonstrates strong financial health, particularly in its latest reported period (202312) where it generated $6,271,809 in revenue against $1,186,236 in expenses, indicating a significant surplus. Over the past several years, the organization has consistently maintained substantial assets, growing from $15,771,733 in 201112 to $20,776,529 in 202312, suggesting prudent financial management and investment. The foundation's liabilities have remained minimal, often reported as $1, which is a positive indicator of financial stability and low debt burden.

Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to provide a precise assessment. However, the consistent surplus in recent years, especially the large surplus in 202312, suggests that the organization is not overspending relative to its income. The NTEE code T31Z (Private Grantmaking Foundations) implies that a significant portion of expenses would likely be in grants or program-related investments. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings indicates a high level of transparency and potentially volunteer leadership or very low overhead in this area.

Overall, the foundation appears to be financially robust and well-managed. Its consistent asset growth, minimal liabilities, and lack of reported officer compensation point to a transparent and efficient operation. Further analysis would benefit from a detailed functional expense breakdown to fully assess program spending ratios, but the available data paints a picture of a financially sound and responsibly managed private foundation.

Is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation Legit?

Verdict: The Thomas J Edelman Foundation appears trustworthy

Red Flags

Strengths