American Bureau Of Shipping
American Bureau Of Shipping consistently generates substantial surpluses and grows assets, reporting 0% officer compensation.
EIN: 134921556 · Spring, TX · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $693.2M |
| Total Expenses | $479.5M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $1.8B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is American Bureau Of Shipping Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Bureau Of Shipping directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Bureau Of Shipping
American Bureau Of Shipping (EIN: 134921556) is a nonprofit organization based in Spring, TX. The organization reported total revenue of $693.2M and total assets of $2.3B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Bureau Of Shipping's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
American Bureau Of Shipping is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 107 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -2.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $541.5M |
| Total Expenses | $479.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$62.0M |
| Total Assets | $2.1B |
| Total Liabilities | $340.2M |
| Net Assets | $1.8B |
| Operating Margin | 11.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 16.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 53.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, American Bureau Of Shipping reported a surplus of $62.0M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 53.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 16.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), American Bureau Of Shipping's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +11.0% | +12.2% | +10.5% |
| 2022 | +7.2% | +4.5% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | -5.5% | -1.9% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | +6.6% | -8.3% | +8.6% |
| 2019 | -1.8% | +6.0% | +6.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1919 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates American Bureau Of Shipping with a Mission Score of 85 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: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Bureau Of Shipping allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $62.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 16.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% for officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this scale with hundreds of millions in revenue and billions in assets. This either indicates that no officers receive compensation or that compensation is reported in a different category not captured by this metric, requiring deeper scrutiny to understand executive pay practices.
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 American Bureau Of Shipping's IRS 990 filings:
- Unclear executive compensation reporting (0% officer comp for large organization)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Bureau Of Shipping:
- Consistent generation of significant financial surpluses
- Strong and growing asset base (from $1.53B in 2014 to $2.12B in 2023)
- Healthy revenue growth over recent periods (e.g., $455M in 2021 to $541M in 2023)
- Expenses consistently below revenue, indicating sound financial management
Frequently Asked Questions about American Bureau Of Shipping
Is American Bureau Of Shipping a legitimate charity?
American Bureau Of Shipping (EIN: 134921556) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Texas. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $693.2M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does American Bureau Of Shipping spend its money?
American Bureau Of Shipping directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 3%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to American Bureau Of Shipping tax-deductible?
American Bureau Of Shipping is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134921556). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of American Bureau Of Shipping's spending goes to programs?
American Bureau Of Shipping directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is American Bureau Of Shipping located?
American Bureau Of Shipping is headquartered in Spring, Texas and files with the IRS under EIN 134921556.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Bureau Of Shipping have?
American Bureau Of Shipping has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $693.2M in total revenue.
How does an organization with over $500 million in revenue report 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all available filings for an organization of this size (latest revenue $541,482,602) is highly unusual. It suggests that either no officers are compensated, or their compensation is categorized differently within the 990 form, or it's paid by a related entity. Further investigation into the full 990 form, specifically Schedule J, would be necessary to clarify executive compensation practices.
What is the primary use of the significant financial surpluses generated by the organization?
The organization consistently generates surpluses (e.g., $62,016,464 in 202312). These surpluses appear to contribute to the substantial growth in assets, which increased from $1.53 billion in 2014 to $2.12 billion in 2023, indicating reinvestment into the organization's long-term capacity and operations.
Given its large asset base, how does American Bureau Of Shipping utilize its financial strength to further its mission?
With over $2.25 billion in assets, the organization possesses significant financial strength. This capital likely supports its core mission of promoting safety and environmental protection in the marine and offshore industries, potentially through investments in research, technology, and global operational infrastructure, though specific program details would require reviewing the full 990.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Bureau Of Shipping showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Bureau Of Shipping's revenue has declined by 25.5%, moving from $726.7M to $541.5M. Total assets increased by 61.4% over the same period, from $1.3B to $2.1B. Total functional expenses fell by 17.8%, from $583.1M to $479.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Bureau Of Shipping reported a surplus of $62.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $340.2M in liabilities against $2.1B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 16.1%), resulting in net assets of $1.8B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $541.5M | $479.5M | $2.1B | $340.2M | — | — |
| 2022 | $487.8M | $427.4M | $1.9B | $325.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $455.2M | $409.1M | $2.1B | $324.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $481.9M | $416.8M | $2.0B | $338.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $451.9M | $454.7M | $1.8B | $276.6M | — | — |
| 2018 | $460.2M | $429.0M | $1.7B | $357.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $484.4M | $422.2M | $1.7B | $345.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $516.8M | $500.7M | $1.6B | $363.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $675.7M | $587.4M | $1.6B | $432.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $732.7M | $642.8M | $1.5B | $430.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $748.8M | $660.9M | $1.5B | $392.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $765.4M | $648.6M | $1.3B | $413.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $726.7M | $583.1M | $1.3B | $496.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $541.5M, expenses of $479.5M, and assets of $2.1B (revenue +11.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $487.8M, expenses of $427.4M, and assets of $1.9B (revenue +7.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $455.2M, expenses of $409.1M, and assets of $2.1B (revenue -5.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $481.9M, expenses of $416.8M, and assets of $2.0B (revenue +6.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $451.9M, expenses of $454.7M, and assets of $1.8B (revenue -1.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $460.2M, expenses of $429.0M, and assets of $1.7B (revenue -5.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $484.4M, expenses of $422.2M, and assets of $1.7B (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $516.8M, expenses of $500.7M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue -23.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $675.7M, expenses of $587.4M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue -7.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $732.7M, expenses of $642.8M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue -2.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $748.8M, expenses of $660.9M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue -2.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $765.4M, expenses of $648.6M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue +5.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $726.7M, expenses of $583.1M, and assets of $1.3B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Bureau Of Shipping:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Bureau Of Shipping 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.