Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation
Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation consistently operates with zero officer compensation and minimal liabilities.
EIN: 10629526 · Mililani, HI · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-27
Is Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation
Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation (EIN: 10629526) is a nonprofit organization based in Mililani, HI, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $1.2M and total assets of $2.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Ben And Miriam Lau 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 Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation with a Mission Score of 92 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: 8%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 2%
According to IRS 990 filings, Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 8%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 2%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers or key employees receive salaries from the foundation, which is highly unusual for an organization with over $2.8 million in assets.
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 Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed program spending breakdown in summary data
- Significant fluctuation in annual revenue, from $6,268 to $3,654,577, making year-over-year comparisons challenging without context.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in leadership costs.
- Minimal liabilities ($0 or $1) across all reported periods, demonstrating strong financial stability.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over a decade, indicating good transparency practices.
- Healthy surplus in the latest reporting period (202312: Revenue $477,030 vs. Expenses $223,402).
Frequently Asked Questions about Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation
Is Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation (EIN: 10629526) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation spend its money?
Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation tax-deductible?
Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10629526). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the foundation manage to operate with zero officer compensation?
The filings consistently show 0% officer compensation, suggesting that leadership roles are likely filled by volunteers or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which significantly reduces administrative overhead.
What are the primary programs or grants funded by the Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation?
The provided data does not detail specific programs or grants. To understand the foundation's programmatic impact, one would need to review the full IRS Form 990, specifically Schedule I (Grants and Other Assistance to Organizations, Governments, and Individuals in the United States) or Schedule O (Supplemental Information).
Has the foundation's asset base been growing or shrinking over time?
The foundation's assets have fluctuated but generally show a slight decline from a peak of $3,866,222 in 201312 to $2,830,315 in 202312, despite periods of significant revenue like $3.6 million in 201212 and $6.2 million in 201112. This suggests consistent distributions or investment losses over the long term.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation's revenue has grown by 7510.6%, moving from $6K to $477K. Total assets increased by 285790.4% over the same period, from $990 to $2.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 3655.9%, from $6K to $223K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Ben And Miriam Lau Foundation reported a surplus of $254K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $2.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $2.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $477K | $223K | $2.8M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $220K | $457K | $2.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $80K | $203K | $2.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $74K | $196K | $2.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $114K | $288K | $3.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $128K | $240K | $3.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $139K | $413K | $3.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $367K | $63K | $3.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.7M | $56K | $3.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $6K | $6K | $990 | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $477K, expenses of $223K, and assets of $2.8M (revenue +116.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $220K, expenses of $457K, and assets of $2.6M (revenue +175.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $80K, expenses of $203K, and assets of $2.8M (revenue +8.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $74K, expenses of $196K, and assets of $2.9M (revenue -35.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $114K, expenses of $288K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -10.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $128K, expenses of $240K, and assets of $3.4M (revenue -7.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $139K, expenses of $413K, and assets of $3.6M (revenue -62.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $367K, expenses of $63K, and assets of $3.9M (revenue -90.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $56K, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +58205.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $6K, expenses of $6K, and assets of $990.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Ben And Miriam Lau 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.