American Scandinavian Foundation
American Scandinavian Foundation maintains strong asset base despite fluctuating revenues and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 131623897 · New York, NY · NTEE: Q200 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is American Scandinavian Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Scandinavian Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Scandinavian Foundation
American Scandinavian Foundation (EIN: 131623897) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code Q200. The organization reported total revenue of $8.6M and total assets of $52.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Scandinavian 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 American Scandinavian Foundation 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Scandinavian Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The American Scandinavian Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all 13 available IRS 990 filings. This is highly unusual for an organization with average annual expenses exceeding $4 million and assets over $50 million, suggesting either a fully volunteer executive leadership or compensation structured in a way not reported as 'officer compensation' on the 990.
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 Scandinavian Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- 0% officer compensation reported for an organization of this size, which is highly unusual and warrants further investigation into how leadership is compensated.
- Expenses exceeded revenue in the latest fiscal period (202306: Revenue=$4,249,826, Expenses=$4,690,011), indicating a deficit for that year, though this can be managed with a strong asset base.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Scandinavian Foundation:
- Strong and stable asset base, consistently over $48 million, providing financial security (e.g., latest assets $52,870,458).
- Low liabilities relative to assets, indicating sound financial management and minimal debt burden (e.g., 2023 liabilities $1,201,188 vs. assets $49,962,523).
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s (13 filings), demonstrating a commitment to transparency.
- Long operational history with consistent financial reporting, suggesting organizational longevity and experience.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Scandinavian Foundation
Is American Scandinavian Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Scandinavian Foundation (EIN: 131623897) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does American Scandinavian Foundation spend its money?
American Scandinavian Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to American Scandinavian Foundation tax-deductible?
American Scandinavian Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131623897). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the American Scandinavian Foundation fund its operations given the 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that executive leadership may be volunteer-based, or their compensation is categorized differently within the 990, such as through independent contractor fees or other staff salaries, which would require a deeper dive into the full 990 forms to clarify.
What is the primary source of the American Scandinavian Foundation's substantial assets?
While the provided data doesn't specify the exact composition, the consistent high asset base (e.g., $52,870,458 latest assets) for an organization with fluctuating revenues suggests a significant endowment or investment portfolio built over time, likely from donations and investment returns.
Has the American Scandinavian Foundation experienced significant financial instability?
Despite fluctuations in annual revenue and expenses (e.g., revenue ranging from $3.5M to $6.8M), the organization has maintained a remarkably stable and substantial asset base, consistently above $48 million, indicating overall financial stability and resilience.
What is the trend in the American Scandinavian Foundation's net assets?
The net assets have generally remained strong and stable, fluctuating around the $48-$56 million range over the past decade, with the latest reported assets at $52,870,458. This indicates effective long-term financial stewardship.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Scandinavian Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Scandinavian Foundation's revenue has grown by 18.5%, moving from $3.6M to $4.2M. Total assets increased by 3.2% over the same period, from $48.4M to $50.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 5.5%, from $4.4M to $4.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Scandinavian Foundation reported a deficit of $440K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.2M in liabilities against $50.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 2.4%), resulting in net assets of $48.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.2M | $4.7M | $50.0M | $1.2M | — | — |
| 2022 | $6.8M | $4.6M | $48.8M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $3.6M | $3.8M | $56.1M | $1.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $5.7M | $5.0M | $49.1M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $5.5M | $5.3M | $50.6M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $4.1M | $5.0M | $49.8M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $3.6M | $4.8M | $49.8M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $5.6M | $4.5M | $48.2M | $980K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.8M | $4.5M | $48.4M | $907K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $4.3M | $4.7M | $51.6M | $914K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.9M | $4.6M | $48.1M | $937K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.1M | $5.4M | $46.5M | $956K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.6M | $4.4M | $48.4M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $50.0M (revenue -37.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $48.8M (revenue +90.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $56.1M (revenue -37.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $49.1M (revenue +4.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $50.6M (revenue +34.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $49.8M (revenue +11.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $4.8M, and assets of $49.8M (revenue -34.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $5.6M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $48.2M (revenue +15.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $48.4M (revenue +11.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $51.6M (revenue +10.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $48.1M (revenue -4.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $46.5M (revenue +15.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $48.4M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Scandinavian 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.