Arca Foundation
Arca Foundation faces recurring operational deficits despite substantial assets.
EIN: 132751798 · Washington, DC · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $14.6M |
| Total Expenses | $5.0M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $48.3M |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Is Arca Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Arca Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Arca Foundation
Arca Foundation (EIN: 132751798) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. The organization reported total revenue of $14.6M and total assets of $49.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Arca Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Arca Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 72 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $987K |
| Total Expenses | $5.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-3,991,434 |
| Total Assets | $49.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $673K |
| Net Assets | $48.3M |
| Operating Margin | -404.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 118.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Arca Foundation reported a deficit of $4.0M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 118.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Arca Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -67.4% | -3.6% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | -34.8% | +28.1% | -21.9% |
| 2021 | +34.1% | -20.5% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | -41.6% | -6.6% | +4.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1954 |
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 Arca Foundation with a Mission Score of 70 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Arca Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% 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 deficit of $4.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Arca Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a fully volunteer executive leadership or that executive salaries are categorized differently within the expense structure, which could impact the clarity of administrative spending.
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 Arca Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Recurring operational deficits (e.g., $4M in 2023, $2.1M in 2022) indicate spending significantly more than earned revenue.
- Significant revenue volatility, including negative revenue in 2015, suggests an unstable funding model or reliance on unpredictable investment returns.
- Unclear executive compensation reporting (0% across all filings) could obscure true administrative costs.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Arca Foundation:
- Substantial asset base ($49,907,067 latest, $48,990,282 in 2023) provides financial stability and capacity for grantmaking.
- Consistent filing history demonstrates commitment to IRS compliance and transparency.
- Low liabilities relative to assets (e.g., $673,258 liabilities vs. $48,990,282 assets in 2023) indicates good financial management of debt.
Frequently Asked Questions about Arca Foundation
Is Arca Foundation a legitimate charity?
Arca Foundation (EIN: 132751798) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Washington DC. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $14.6M. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Arca Foundation spend its money?
Arca Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Arca Foundation tax-deductible?
Arca Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 132751798). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Arca Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Arca Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Arca Foundation located?
Arca Foundation is headquartered in Washington, Washington DC and files with the IRS under EIN 132751798.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Arca Foundation have?
Arca Foundation has 10 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 $14.6M in total revenue.
What is the primary source of Arca Foundation's revenue, given the significant fluctuations and occasional negative revenue figures (e.g., -$360,199 in 2015)?
The fluctuating and sometimes negative revenue figures suggest a heavy reliance on investment income, which can be volatile, or significant asset sales/losses in certain periods. Further detail would be in the full 990 filings.
How does Arca Foundation cover its operational deficits, such as the $4 million gap in 2023 ($986,645 revenue vs. $4,978,079 expenses)?
Operational deficits are likely covered by drawing down from the organization's substantial asset base, which stood at $48,990,282 in 2023. This is a common practice for foundations with large endowments.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0% across all filings?
A consistent 0% officer compensation could mean that the executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation for key personnel is reported under other expense categories, such as 'salaries and wages' for non-officer staff, or as part of program/administrative expenses without specific officer designation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Arca Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Arca Foundation's revenue has grown by 97.3%, moving from $500K to $987K. Total assets increased by 0.1% over the same period, from $48.9M to $49.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 70.3%, from $2.9M to $5.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Arca Foundation reported a deficit of $4.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $673K in liabilities against $49.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.4%), resulting in net assets of $48.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $987K | $5.0M | $49.0M | $673K | — | — |
| 2022 | $3.0M | $5.2M | $46.4M | $645K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.6M | $4.0M | $59.4M | $399K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $3.5M | $5.1M | $55.9M | $225K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $5.9M | $5.4M | $53.6M | $386K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $-360,199 | $3.5M | $52.2M | $281K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $3.9M | $3.6M | $56.0M | $197K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $7.7M | $3.3M | $55.7M | $348K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $5.4M | $3.0M | $51.7M | $674K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $500K | $2.9M | $48.9M | $337K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $987K, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $49.0M (revenue -67.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $5.2M, and assets of $46.4M (revenue -34.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $59.4M (revenue +34.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $55.9M (revenue -41.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $5.9M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $53.6M.
- 2015: Revenue of $-360,199, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $52.2M (revenue -109.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $56.0M (revenue -49.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $7.7M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $55.7M (revenue +42.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $5.4M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $51.7M (revenue +977.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $500K, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $48.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Arca Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Arca 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.