Auburn Theological Seminary
Auburn Theological Seminary faces persistent operating deficits and declining assets.
EIN: 150532053 · New York, NY · NTEE: B50 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $8.6M |
| Total Expenses | $6.5M |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $17.5M |
| Transparency Score | 60/100 |
Is Auburn Theological Seminary Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Auburn Theological Seminary directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Auburn Theological Seminary
Auburn Theological Seminary (EIN: 150532053) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code B50. The organization reported total revenue of $8.6M and total assets of $19.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Auburn Theological Seminary's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Auburn Theological Seminary is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 55 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -3.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $3.7M |
| Total Expenses | $6.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-2,835,411 |
| Total Assets | $19.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.3M |
| Net Assets | $17.5M |
| Operating Margin | -76.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 11.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 36.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Auburn Theological Seminary reported a deficit of $2.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 36.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 11.7% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Auburn Theological Seminary's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -3.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -29.8% | +1.1% | -9.3% |
| 2022 | +0.7% | -13.4% | -22.4% |
| 2021 | +38.0% | -3.7% | +6.2% |
| 2020 | -51.8% | -11.2% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | -22.3% | +6.6% | -8.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2700 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1971 |
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 Auburn Theological Seminary with a Mission Score of 60 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, Auburn Theological Seminary 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 deficit of $2.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 11.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation was paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is a strong positive for transparency and resource allocation.
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 Auburn Theological Seminary's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operating deficits (expenses exceeding revenue) in recent years.
- Significant decline in total assets from $30.4 million in 2018 to $19.8 million in 2023.
- Liabilities have fluctuated, reaching $2,320,875 in 2023, indicating some financial obligations.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Auburn Theological Seminary:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating no executive salaries paid.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), suggesting a commitment to transparency in reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Auburn Theological Seminary
Is Auburn Theological Seminary a legitimate charity?
Auburn Theological Seminary (EIN: 150532053) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 60/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $8.6M. 3 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Auburn Theological Seminary spend its money?
Auburn Theological Seminary directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Auburn Theological Seminary tax-deductible?
Auburn Theological Seminary is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 150532053). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Auburn Theological Seminary's spending goes to programs?
Auburn Theological Seminary directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Auburn Theological Seminary compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 60/100 (Good), Auburn Theological Seminary is above average for NTEE category B50 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Auburn Theological Seminary located?
Auburn Theological Seminary is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 150532053. It is classified under NTEE code B50.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Auburn Theological Seminary have?
Auburn Theological Seminary 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 $8.6M in total revenue.
Is Auburn Theological Seminary financially sustainable?
The organization's financial sustainability is questionable given the consistent operating deficits. In 2023, expenses exceeded revenue by over $2.8 million, and this trend has been observed for several years, leading to a significant reduction in assets from $30.4 million in 2018 to $19.8 million in 2023.
Why are assets declining so significantly?
Assets have declined from $30,466,697 in 2018 to $19,813,410 in 2023, likely due to the organization's consistent operating deficits. The organization has been spending more than it earns, drawing down its reserves to cover expenses.
What is the impact of 0% officer compensation?
The 0% officer compensation reported across all filings suggests that the organization is not allocating funds to executive salaries, which can be seen as a positive for maximizing resources for its mission and demonstrating a commitment to financial prudence in this area.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Auburn Theological Seminary showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Auburn Theological Seminary's revenue has declined by 30.2%, moving from $5.3M to $3.7M. Total assets decreased by 40.4% over the same period, from $33.3M to $19.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 32.6%, from $4.9M to $6.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Auburn Theological Seminary reported a deficit of $2.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.3M in liabilities against $19.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.7%), resulting in net assets of $17.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.7M | $6.5M | $19.8M | $2.3M | — | — |
| 2022 | $5.3M | $6.5M | $21.8M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $5.2M | $7.5M | $28.1M | $4.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $3.8M | $7.8M | $26.5M | $3.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $7.9M | $8.7M | $27.9M | $771K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $10.1M | $8.2M | $30.5M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $6.5M | $7.3M | $27.8M | $464K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $4.8M | $6.2M | $27.6M | $490K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $6.0M | $6.0M | $30.3M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $5.5M | $5.7M | $31.1M | $685K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $4.6M | $6.5M | $28.1M | $619K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.8M | $6.0M | $28.2M | $800K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $5.3M | $4.9M | $33.3M | $674K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $19.8M (revenue -29.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.3M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $21.8M (revenue +0.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $5.2M, expenses of $7.5M, and assets of $28.1M (revenue +38.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $7.8M, and assets of $26.5M (revenue -51.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $7.9M, expenses of $8.7M, and assets of $27.9M (revenue -22.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $8.2M, and assets of $30.5M (revenue +55.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $6.5M, expenses of $7.3M, and assets of $27.8M (revenue +36.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $27.6M (revenue -20.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $6.0M, expenses of $6.0M, and assets of $30.3M (revenue +9.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $5.7M, and assets of $31.1M (revenue +20.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $28.1M (revenue +61.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $6.0M, and assets of $28.2M (revenue -46.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $5.3M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $33.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Auburn Theological Seminary:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Auburn Theological Seminary 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.