Better Than Ezra Foundation
Better Than Ezra Foundation experiences significant revenue decline in recent years, maintaining zero officer compensation.
EIN: 208014826 · Houma, LA · NTEE: T30 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Expenses | $2K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $46K |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Is Better Than Ezra Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Better Than Ezra Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Better Than Ezra Foundation
Better Than Ezra Foundation (EIN: 208014826) is a nonprofit organization based in Houma, LA, classified under NTEE code T30. The organization reported total revenue of $0 and total assets of $0 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Better Than Ezra Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Better Than Ezra Foundation is a micro nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -26.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $5K |
| Total Expenses | $2K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$3K |
| Total Assets | $46K |
| Total Liabilities | $186 |
| Net Assets | $46K |
| Operating Margin | 59.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 266.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Better Than Ezra Foundation reported a surplus of $3K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 266.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Better Than Ezra Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -26.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -67.5% | -80.3% | +7.0% |
| 2022 | -59.8% | -76.4% | +13.6% |
| 2021 | -57.2% | -17.4% | -20.2% |
| 2020 | +583.5% | +160.8% | +285.5% |
| 2019 | -89.6% | -83.9% | -20.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
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 Better Than Ezra 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, Better Than Ezra 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 surplus of $3K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported at 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officer salaries are paid, which is highly favorable for a small organization of this size.
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 Better Than Ezra Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant and consistent decline in annual revenue from $91,973 in 2020 to $5,136 in 2023.
- Expenses frequently exceeded revenue in prior years (e.g., 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014), indicating potential reliance on reserves or inconsistent financial planning.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Better Than Ezra Foundation:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds for mission-related activities rather than executive salaries.
- Maintained positive assets ($46,366 in 2023) despite fluctuating revenues and expenses.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history demonstrates transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Better Than Ezra Foundation
Is Better Than Ezra Foundation a legitimate charity?
Better Than Ezra Foundation (EIN: 208014826) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Louisiana. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Better Than Ezra Foundation spend its money?
Better Than Ezra Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Better Than Ezra Foundation tax-deductible?
Better Than Ezra Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208014826). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Better Than Ezra Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Better Than Ezra Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Better Than Ezra Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 70/100 (Good), Better Than Ezra Foundation is above average for NTEE category T30 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Better Than Ezra Foundation located?
Better Than Ezra Foundation is headquartered in Houma, Louisiana and files with the IRS under EIN 208014826. It is classified under NTEE code T30.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Better Than Ezra Foundation have?
Better Than Ezra Foundation 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.
Why has the organization's revenue decreased so significantly since 2020?
The organization's revenue dropped from $91,973 in 2020 to $5,136 in 2023. The IRS 990 filings do not provide specific reasons for this decline, but it suggests a substantial reduction in fundraising activities or donor contributions.
What are the primary programs supported by the Better Than Ezra Foundation?
The provided data from the IRS 990 filings does not detail the specific programs or activities undertaken by the foundation. Further review of the full 990 forms would be needed to understand its programmatic focus.
Is the organization financially stable given the recent revenue trends?
While the organization has maintained positive assets ($46,366 in 2023) and kept expenses below revenue in the most recent year ($2,091 expenses vs. $5,136 revenue), the sharp decline in revenue suggests a contraction in operations. Its long-term stability would depend on its ability to reverse this trend or adapt to a smaller operational scale.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Better Than Ezra Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Better Than Ezra Foundation's revenue has declined by 97.4%, moving from $201K to $5K. Total assets decreased by 66.6% over the same period, from $139K to $46K. Total functional expenses fell by 98.5%, from $137K to $2K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Better Than Ezra Foundation reported a surplus of $3K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $186 in liabilities against $46K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%), resulting in net assets of $46K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5K | $2K | $46K | $186 | — | — |
| 2022 | $16K | $11K | $43K | $186 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $39K | $45K | $38K | $186 | — | — |
| 2020 | $92K | $55K | $48K | $4K | — | — |
| 2019 | $13K | $21K | $12K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $130K | $130K | $16K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $101K | $116K | $16K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $142K | $160K | $31K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $106K | $193K | $47K | $813 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $145K | $213K | $135K | $805 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $55K | $78K | $203K | $319 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $122K | $35K | $226K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $201K | $137K | $139K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $5K, expenses of $2K, and assets of $46K (revenue -67.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $16K, expenses of $11K, and assets of $43K (revenue -59.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $39K, expenses of $45K, and assets of $38K (revenue -57.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $92K, expenses of $55K, and assets of $48K (revenue +583.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $13K, expenses of $21K, and assets of $12K (revenue -89.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $130K, expenses of $130K, and assets of $16K (revenue +28.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $101K, expenses of $116K, and assets of $16K (revenue -28.9% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $142K, expenses of $160K, and assets of $31K (revenue +34.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $106K, expenses of $193K, and assets of $47K (revenue -27.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $145K, expenses of $213K, and assets of $135K (revenue +164.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $55K, expenses of $78K, and assets of $203K (revenue -55.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $122K, expenses of $35K, and assets of $226K (revenue -39.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $201K, expenses of $137K, and assets of $139K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Better Than Ezra Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Better Than Ezra 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.