Quick charity verification for William M Backer Foundation Inc (EIN: 133579157)
Verdict: William M Backer Foundation Inc appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$4.8MRevenue
$7.5MAssets
3Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant expense-to-revenue deficit in the latest filing (202307), with expenses at $891,143 against revenue of $221,098.
NTEE code is unknown, limiting understanding of the organization's specific programmatic focus.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in provided data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency beyond total expenses.
Strengths
Consistent zero officer compensation across all filings, indicating highly efficient executive leadership costs.
Steady growth in assets over the past decade, from $4.4 million in 2011 to $6.1 million in 2023, demonstrating strong financial stewardship.
Minimal liabilities consistently reported as $1, indicating excellent financial stability and low debt.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings provided), suggesting good transparency and compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How William M Backer 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
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 William M Backer Foundation Inc
Is William M Backer Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, William M Backer Foundation Inc (EIN: 133579157) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is William M Backer Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?
William M Backer Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $4.8M. Assets: $7.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for William M Backer Foundation Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for William M Backer Foundation Inc is 133579157. 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 William M Backer Foundation Inc spend its money?
William M Backer Foundation Inc allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify William M Backer Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify William M Backer Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 133579157 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 William M Backer Foundation Inc. demonstrates a consistent financial structure, primarily operating as a grant-making organization given its NTEE code is unknown and its expenses are generally lower than its assets. The foundation's assets have shown steady growth over the past decade, increasing from $4,438,904 in 2011 to $6,149,216 in 2023, indicating sound asset management. However, the latest filing (202307) shows expenses ($891,143) significantly exceeding revenue ($221,098), which could be a concern if it becomes a recurring trend, though it might also reflect a strategic increase in grant disbursements or investment losses in a particular year.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, as the provided data only includes total expenses. However, the consistent 'Officer Comp=0%' across all filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean operational structure, which is a positive indicator for minimizing administrative overhead. The foundation's liabilities have remained minimal, often reported as $1, which points to strong financial stability and low debt burden.
Transparency is generally good given the availability of 10 years of IRS 990 filings. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a clear sign of transparency regarding executive pay. However, the lack of a specified NTEE code and detailed expense categories in the provided data limits a deeper analysis of its programmatic focus and spending efficiency. Further details from the full 990 forms would be needed to fully evaluate its program effectiveness and administrative costs.