Abelow Family Foundation
Abelow Family Foundation consistently grants funds with zero officer compensation, drawing from stable $2M+ assets despite fluctuating annual revenues.
EIN: 134053987 · Telluride, CO · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Abelow Family Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Abelow Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Abelow Family Foundation
Abelow Family Foundation (EIN: 134053987) is a nonprofit organization based in Telluride, CO, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $337K and total assets of $2.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Abelow Family Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Abelow Family Foundation with a Mission Score of 92 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 8%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 2%
According to IRS 990 filings, Abelow Family Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 8%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 2%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the foundation's leadership is either unpaid or compensated through non-officer channels, which is highly favorable for maximizing funds for charitable purposes.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Abelow Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Occasional periods of expenses significantly exceeding revenue, such as in 2023 ($271,280 expenses vs. $181,740 revenue) and 2021 ($-83,979 revenue vs. $264,400 expenses), which, while common for foundations, warrants monitoring to ensure long-term sustainability if not balanced by investment gains.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Abelow Family Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation across all reported periods, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds towards the mission.
- Stable and substantial asset base, consistently over $1.9 million in recent years, providing a solid financial foundation for grantmaking.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), demonstrating consistent operation and transparency.
- As a grantmaking foundation, its primary function is to distribute funds, inherently aligning with high program spending.
Frequently Asked Questions about Abelow Family Foundation
Is Abelow Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Abelow Family Foundation (EIN: 134053987) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Abelow Family Foundation spend its money?
Abelow Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Abelow Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Abelow Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134053987). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Abelow Family Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided data, the Abelow Family Foundation appears to be a good charity, particularly for those interested in supporting a grantmaking foundation with a strong commitment to its mission. It maintains a stable asset base (over $2 million in recent years), consistently reports 0% officer compensation, and directs its resources towards philanthropic grants. While revenue fluctuates, this is common for foundations that rely on investment returns and strategically disburse funds.
How does the foundation manage its expenses when revenue is negative or lower than expenses?
The foundation manages periods of negative or lower revenue by drawing from its substantial asset base. For example, in 2021, revenue was $-83,979 while expenses were $264,400. The foundation's assets remained robust at $1,925,926, indicating it uses its principal or accumulated earnings to cover grantmaking and operational costs, a standard practice for endowed foundations.
What is the primary focus of the Abelow Family Foundation's spending?
As a Private Grantmaking Foundation (NTEE Code T22), the primary focus of the Abelow Family Foundation's spending is on making grants to other organizations or individuals to further charitable causes. While specific grant recipients are not detailed here, the nature of its NTEE code implies that the vast majority of its expenses are direct programmatic grants.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Abelow Family Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Abelow Family Foundation's revenue has grown by 364.8%, moving from $39K to $182K. Total assets increased by 15.6% over the same period, from $1.8M to $2.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 114%, from $127K to $271K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Abelow Family Foundation reported a deficit of $90K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $2.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $2.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $182K | $271K | $2.1M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $218K | $217K | $1.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $-83,979 | $264K | $1.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $47K | $222K | $2.3M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $213K | $245K | $2.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $737K | $196K | $2.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $198K | $48K | $2.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $92K | $54K | $1.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $51K | $121K | $1.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $39K | $127K | $1.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $182K, expenses of $271K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -16.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $218K, expenses of $217K, and assets of $1.9M.
- 2021: Revenue of $-83,979, expenses of $264K, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -277.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $47K, expenses of $222K, and assets of $2.3M (revenue -77.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $213K, expenses of $245K, and assets of $2.5M (revenue -71.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $737K, expenses of $196K, and assets of $2.5M (revenue +272.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $198K, expenses of $48K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue +114.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $92K, expenses of $54K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue +81.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $51K, expenses of $121K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue +29.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $39K, expenses of $127K, and assets of $1.8M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Abelow Family Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.