American Petroleum Institute
American Petroleum Institute consistently operates with high expenses relative to revenue and significant liabilities.
EIN: 130433430 · Washington, DC · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is American Petroleum Institute Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Petroleum Institute directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About American Petroleum Institute
American Petroleum Institute (EIN: 130433430) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. The organization reported total revenue of $268.0M and total assets of $109.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Petroleum Institute's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
American Petroleum Institute is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 88 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $267.6M |
| Total Expenses | $258.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$9.2M |
| Total Assets | $122.9M |
| Total Liabilities | $133.7M |
| Net Assets | $-10,780,409 |
| Operating Margin | 3.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 108.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 5.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, American Petroleum Institute reported a surplus of $9.2M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 5.7 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 108.8% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), American Petroleum Institute's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +11.8% | +6.9% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | +4.6% | +6.6% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | +7.1% | -2.5% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | -10.5% | -7.0% | -10.3% |
| 2019 | +1.8% | +3.2% | -7.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1938 |
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 Petroleum Institute with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Petroleum Institute allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $9.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 108.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The reported 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization with over $200 million in annual revenue and suggests that executive compensation may be categorized differently or not fully captured in the 'Officer Comp' metric provided.
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 Petroleum Institute's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent liabilities exceeding assets (e.g., $133.6M liabilities vs $122.9M assets in 2023)
- Reported 0% officer compensation for a large organization, suggesting potential reporting ambiguities
- Expenses frequently close to or exceeding revenue, indicating tight operating margins (e.g., $241.6M expenses vs $239.3M revenue in 2022)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Petroleum Institute:
- Consistent high revenue generation, exceeding $200 million annually
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, indicating transparency in financial reporting
- Substantial asset base, despite being outweighed by liabilities (e.g., $122.9M assets in 2023)
Frequently Asked Questions about American Petroleum Institute
Is American Petroleum Institute a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Petroleum Institute (EIN: 130433430) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does American Petroleum Institute spend its money?
American Petroleum Institute directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to American Petroleum Institute tax-deductible?
American Petroleum Institute is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 130433430). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does API manage its significant liabilities, which consistently exceed its assets?
API's liabilities have consistently been higher than its assets, for example, $133.6 million in liabilities versus $122.9 million in assets in 2023. This suggests a reliance on debt or other obligations, and further investigation into the nature of these liabilities would be beneficial.
What is the true executive compensation structure, given the reported 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation for an organization of API's scale (over $200 million in revenue) is highly atypical. It suggests that executive compensation might be reported under different categories or through related entities, warranting further scrutiny of their full IRS Form 990 filings.
What are the specific program activities that account for the majority of API's expenses?
While the data indicates high overall expenses (e.g., $258.3 million in 2023), the provided summary does not detail the specific program activities. A deeper dive into their full 990 forms would be needed to understand the breakdown of their program spending.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Petroleum Institute showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Petroleum Institute's revenue has grown by 24%, moving from $215.8M to $267.6M. Total assets decreased by 4.2% over the same period, from $128.3M to $122.9M. Total functional expenses rose by 24.9%, from $206.9M to $258.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Petroleum Institute reported a surplus of $9.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $133.7M in liabilities against $122.9M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 108.8%), resulting in net assets of $-10,780,409.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $267.6M | $258.3M | $122.9M | $133.7M | — | — |
| 2022 | $239.4M | $241.6M | $119.3M | $144.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $228.8M | $226.7M | $119.1M | $162.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $213.6M | $232.5M | $117.7M | $199.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $238.5M | $250.0M | $131.2M | $193.8M | — | — |
| 2018 | $234.3M | $242.2M | $142.5M | $188.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $206.7M | $220.8M | $84.6M | $133.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $229.7M | $225.1M | $88.5M | $112.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $216.3M | $250.3M | $83.7M | $116.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $232.9M | $244.3M | $115.1M | $124.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $225.5M | $237.9M | $120.3M | $87.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $237.9M | $235.4M | $134.2M | $102.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $215.8M | $206.9M | $128.3M | $101.9M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $267.6M, expenses of $258.3M, and assets of $122.9M (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $239.4M, expenses of $241.6M, and assets of $119.3M (revenue +4.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $228.8M, expenses of $226.7M, and assets of $119.1M (revenue +7.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $213.6M, expenses of $232.5M, and assets of $117.7M (revenue -10.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $238.5M, expenses of $250.0M, and assets of $131.2M (revenue +1.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $234.3M, expenses of $242.2M, and assets of $142.5M (revenue +13.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $206.7M, expenses of $220.8M, and assets of $84.6M (revenue -10.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $229.7M, expenses of $225.1M, and assets of $88.5M (revenue +6.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $216.3M, expenses of $250.3M, and assets of $83.7M (revenue -7.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $232.9M, expenses of $244.3M, and assets of $115.1M (revenue +3.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $225.5M, expenses of $237.9M, and assets of $120.3M (revenue -5.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $237.9M, expenses of $235.4M, and assets of $134.2M (revenue +10.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $215.8M, expenses of $206.9M, and assets of $128.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Petroleum Institute:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Petroleum Institute 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.