Birthright Israel Foundation
Birthright Israel Foundation experiences recent deficit spending despite strong revenue and asset base.
EIN: 134092050 · New York, NY · NTEE: Q230 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Birthright Israel Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Birthright Israel Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Birthright Israel Foundation
Birthright Israel Foundation (EIN: 134092050) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code Q230. The organization reported total revenue of $75.5M and total assets of $70.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Birthright Israel 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 Birthright Israel 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: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Birthright Israel Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for a nonprofit with annual revenues often exceeding $70 million. This suggests either a volunteer leadership model at the highest level or that executive compensation is handled through a related entity, warranting further inquiry for complete transparency.
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 Birthright Israel Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending in recent years (e.g., $38.6M in 2022, $7.3M in 2023)
- Significant increase in liabilities from $2.1M in 2021 to $16.2M in 2023
- Unusual 0% officer compensation reported, potentially obscuring full executive remuneration
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Birthright Israel Foundation:
- Strong revenue generation capacity, often exceeding $70 million annually
- Substantial asset base, currently $70.5 million, providing financial stability
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating established operations
Frequently Asked Questions about Birthright Israel Foundation
Is Birthright Israel Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Birthright Israel Foundation (EIN: 134092050) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Birthright Israel Foundation spend its money?
Birthright Israel Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Birthright Israel Foundation tax-deductible?
Birthright Israel Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134092050). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Birthright Israel Foundation a good charity?
Birthright Israel Foundation demonstrates strong fundraising capabilities and a substantial asset base. While recent years show deficit spending (e.g., $7.3M in 2023, $38.6M in 2022), their overall financial health appears robust. The reported 0% officer compensation is a unique aspect that could be viewed positively for donor trust, but also raises questions about the full compensation structure of key personnel.
Why are expenses exceeding revenue in recent years?
In 2023, expenses ($92,850,953) exceeded revenue ($85,539,550) by over $7.3 million, and in 2022, expenses ($110,696,563) exceeded revenue ($72,026,353) by over $38.6 million. This trend of deficit spending could be due to strategic investments, increased program delivery costs, or a temporary dip in fundraising, and warrants closer examination of their operational budget.
What is the explanation for 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It could indicate that the top leadership serves in a purely volunteer capacity, or that their compensation is paid by a related entity, which would not be reflected in this organization's 990 filing. Further investigation into their organizational structure and related parties would clarify this.
How stable are their assets given recent financial fluctuations?
While the organization experienced significant asset growth from $31.5 million in 2016 to $97.2 million in 2021, assets have since decreased to $64.2 million in 2023. Despite this decline and recent deficit spending, their current assets of $70.5 million (latest available) remain substantial, providing a buffer against financial fluctuations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Birthright Israel Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Birthright Israel Foundation's revenue has grown by 82.2%, moving from $46.9M to $85.5M. Total assets increased by 337.7% over the same period, from $14.7M to $64.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 68.2%, from $55.2M to $92.9M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Birthright Israel Foundation reported a deficit of $7.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $16.2M in liabilities against $64.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 25.2%), resulting in net assets of $48.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $85.5M | $92.9M | $64.3M | $16.2M | — | — |
| 2022 | $72.0M | $110.7M | $69.4M | $15.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $44.5M | $33.8M | $97.2M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $62.5M | $37.5M | $86.8M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $99.0M | $94.0M | $64.5M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $121.1M | $96.2M | $61.2M | $4.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $96.9M | $93.8M | $35.1M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $96.8M | $98.6M | $31.5M | $2.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $83.9M | $95.7M | $32.6M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $123.6M | $95.8M | $64.3M | $21.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $74.3M | $88.0M | $16.4M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $102.0M | $87.2M | $30.0M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $46.9M | $55.2M | $14.7M | $676K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $85.5M, expenses of $92.9M, and assets of $64.3M (revenue +18.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $72.0M, expenses of $110.7M, and assets of $69.4M (revenue +61.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $44.5M, expenses of $33.8M, and assets of $97.2M (revenue -28.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $62.5M, expenses of $37.5M, and assets of $86.8M (revenue -36.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $99.0M, expenses of $94.0M, and assets of $64.5M (revenue -18.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $121.1M, expenses of $96.2M, and assets of $61.2M (revenue +25.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $96.9M, expenses of $93.8M, and assets of $35.1M (revenue +0.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $96.8M, expenses of $98.6M, and assets of $31.5M (revenue +15.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $83.9M, expenses of $95.7M, and assets of $32.6M (revenue -32.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $123.6M, expenses of $95.8M, and assets of $64.3M (revenue +66.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $74.3M, expenses of $88.0M, and assets of $16.4M (revenue -27.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $102.0M, expenses of $87.2M, and assets of $30.0M (revenue +117.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $46.9M, expenses of $55.2M, and assets of $14.7M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Birthright Israel 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.