Benton Institute For Broadband & Society
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society consistently spends its revenue on operations with no officer compensation reported.
EIN: 136075750 · Evanston, IL · NTEE: T23 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.2M |
| Total Expenses | $1.6M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $3.5M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Benton Institute For Broadband & Society Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Benton Institute For Broadband & Society
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society (EIN: 136075750) is a nonprofit organization based in Evanston, IL, classified under NTEE code T23. The organization reported total revenue of $2.2M and total assets of $3.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Benton Institute For Broadband & Society's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 76 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.5M |
| Total Expenses | $1.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-44,300 |
| Total Assets | $3.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $33K |
| Net Assets | $3.5M |
| Operating Margin | -2.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 27.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Benton Institute For Broadband & Society reported a deficit of $44K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 27.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.9% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Benton Institute For Broadband & Society's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +28.6% | +18.0% | +5.9% |
| 2022 | +7.3% | +4.9% | -15.4% |
| 2021 | +319.8% | -1.5% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | +197.9% | +16.5% | -14.4% |
| 2019 | -85.6% | +9.9% | -31.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1950 |
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 Benton Institute For Broadband & Society 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: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Benton Institute For Broadband & Society 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 $44K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.9%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds towards its mission rather than executive salaries, which is highly commendable for transparency and efficiency.
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 Benton Institute For Broadband & Society's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant long-term decline in assets from $8.5M in 2013 to $3.6M in 2023, which may warrant further investigation into the cause.
- Highly fluctuating revenue streams over the past decade, suggesting potential reliance on grants or project-based funding that can be inconsistent.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Benton Institute For Broadband & Society:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong financial transparency and a focus on mission.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting good financial health and minimal debt burden.
- Active use of funds, with expenses often close to or slightly exceeding revenue, indicating resources are being deployed for programs.
- Consistent filing of IRS 990s over a decade, demonstrating commitment to transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Benton Institute For Broadband & Society
Is Benton Institute For Broadband & Society a legitimate charity?
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society (EIN: 136075750) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.2M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Benton Institute For Broadband & Society spend its money?
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Benton Institute For Broadband & Society tax-deductible?
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136075750). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Benton Institute For Broadband & Society's spending goes to programs?
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Benton Institute For Broadband & Society compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Benton Institute For Broadband & Society is above average for NTEE category T23 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Benton Institute For Broadband & Society located?
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 136075750. It is classified under NTEE code T23.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Benton Institute For Broadband & Society have?
Benton Institute For Broadband & Society 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 $2.2M in total revenue.
Is Benton Institute For Broadband & Society financially stable?
Yes, the organization appears financially stable with assets of $3,577,953 in 2023 and relatively low liabilities of $32,953. While assets have decreased over the long term, current liabilities are well-covered.
How has the organization's revenue trended?
Revenue has fluctuated significantly over the years, from a high of $1,437,854 in 2011 to a low of $87,996 in 2019, and then recovering to $1,518,158 in 2023. This indicates a variable funding environment.
What is the trend in the organization's assets?
The organization's assets have shown a consistent downward trend from a peak of $8,498,428 in 2013 to $3,577,953 in 2023. This could be due to spending down endowments or a change in asset management strategy.
Does the organization spend efficiently?
The organization appears to spend efficiently, with expenses generally aligning with or slightly exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., $1,562,458 expenses vs. $1,518,158 revenue in 2023), indicating active use of funds. The 0% officer compensation also points to efficiency.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Benton Institute For Broadband & Society showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Benton Institute For Broadband & Society's revenue has grown by 5.6%, moving from $1.4M to $1.5M. Total assets decreased by 50.3% over the same period, from $7.2M to $3.6M. Total functional expenses fell by 26.6%, from $2.1M to $1.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Benton Institute For Broadband & Society reported a deficit of $44K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $33K in liabilities against $3.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.9%), resulting in net assets of $3.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.5M | $1.6M | $3.6M | $33K | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.2M | $1.3M | $3.4M | $29K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.1M | $1.3M | $4.0M | $24K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $262K | $1.3M | $4.0M | $25K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $88K | $1.1M | $4.7M | $25K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $610K | $1000K | $6.9M | $228K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $833K | $1.2M | $7.7M | $183K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.2M | $810K | $8.5M | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $389K | $787K | $7.2M | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.4M | $2.1M | $7.2M | $106K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +28.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +7.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +319.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $262K, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +197.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $88K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $4.7M (revenue -85.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $610K, expenses of $1000K, and assets of $6.9M (revenue -26.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $833K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $7.7M (revenue -30.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $810K, and assets of $8.5M (revenue +208.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $389K, expenses of $787K, and assets of $7.2M (revenue -73.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $7.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Benton Institute For Broadband & Society:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Benton Institute For Broadband & Society 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.