Bay Area Council Foundation
Bay Area Council Foundation reports a $2.3 million deficit in 2023 despite significant asset growth.
EIN: 201826827 · San Francisco, CA · NTEE: P20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Bay Area Council Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Bay Area Council Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Bay Area Council Foundation
Bay Area Council Foundation (EIN: 201826827) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, CA, classified under NTEE code P20. The organization reported total revenue of $3.8M and total assets of $46.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Bay Area Council Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Bay Area Council Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 4.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $4.8M |
| Total Expenses | $7.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-2,322,849 |
| Total Assets | $46.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $36.8M |
| Net Assets | $9.2M |
| Operating Margin | -48.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 80.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 77.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Bay Area Council Foundation reported a deficit of $2.3M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 77.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 80.0% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Bay Area Council Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -43.1% | +29.9% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | +2.2% | +140.4% | +49.0% |
| 2021 | +70.4% | +8.0% | +95.4% |
| 2020 | +109.8% | -5.8% | +55.9% |
| 2019 | -9.1% | -4.5% | +34.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
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 Bay Area Council Foundation with a Mission Score of 75 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, Bay Area Council 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 $2.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 80.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization with assets exceeding $45 million and expenses over $7 million.
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 Bay Area Council Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant operational deficit in 2023 ($2.3M)
- High liabilities relative to assets ($36.7M liabilities vs. $45.9M assets in 2023)
- Large fluctuations in revenue and expenses year-over-year
- 0% officer compensation for an organization of this scale, which may obscure how leadership is compensated or sustained.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Bay Area Council Foundation:
- Strong asset growth over time (from $1.4M in 2016 to $45.9M in 2023)
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a commitment to directing funds away from executive salaries
- Substantial asset base provides financial stability despite recent operational deficit
Frequently Asked Questions about Bay Area Council Foundation
Is Bay Area Council Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bay Area Council Foundation (EIN: 201826827) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Bay Area Council Foundation spend its money?
Bay Area Council Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Bay Area Council Foundation tax-deductible?
Bay Area Council Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201826827). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Why did expenses significantly exceed revenue in 2023 ($7.0M expenses vs. $4.7M revenue)?
The 2023 filing shows a substantial operational deficit, which could be due to one-time investments, a decline in donations, or increased program costs. Further detail from the full 990 would be needed to understand the specific reasons.
What is the nature of the large liabilities ($36.7M in 2023) relative to assets ($45.9M)?
The high ratio of liabilities to assets suggests significant debt or restricted funds. This could indicate capital projects, loans, or specific grant obligations that are not yet expended. Understanding the composition of these liabilities is crucial for assessing financial risk.
How does the organization sustain operations with 0% officer compensation?
Reporting 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization of this size. It could imply that executive functions are performed by volunteers, compensated through a related entity, or that the compensation is categorized differently within the filing, warranting further investigation.
What caused the significant revenue fluctuations, from $8.3M in 2022 to $4.7M in 2023?
Such large year-over-year revenue changes can be attributed to varying grant cycles, large one-time donations in previous years, or changes in fundraising effectiveness. Analyzing the sources of revenue in the detailed 990 would provide clarity.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Bay Area Council Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Bay Area Council Foundation's revenue has grown by 62.1%, moving from $2.9M to $4.8M. Total assets increased by 4163.1% over the same period, from $1.1M to $46.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 157.5%, from $2.7M to $7.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Bay Area Council Foundation reported a deficit of $2.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $36.8M in liabilities against $46.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 80.0%), resulting in net assets of $9.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.8M | $7.1M | $46.0M | $36.8M | — | — |
| 2022 | $8.4M | $5.5M | $46.3M | $34.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $8.2M | $2.3M | $31.1M | $22.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.8M | $2.1M | $15.9M | $12.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $2.3M | $2.2M | $10.2M | $9.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $2.5M | $2.3M | $7.6M | $7.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.9M | $2.1M | $3.3M | $3.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $3.2M | $3.0M | $1.5M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.5M | $2.9M | $1.3M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.8M | $2.8M | $2.0M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.0M | $2.6M | $1.3M | $959K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.8M | $1.9M | $711K | $807K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $2.9M | $2.7M | $1.1M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $7.1M, and assets of $46.0M (revenue -43.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $8.4M, expenses of $5.5M, and assets of $46.3M (revenue +2.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $8.2M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $31.1M (revenue +70.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $15.9M (revenue +109.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.3M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $10.2M (revenue -9.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $7.6M (revenue +31.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $3.3M (revenue -39.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +28.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $1.3M (revenue -13.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +65.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $711K (revenue -37.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $1.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Bay Area Council Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Bay Area Council 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.