Bonfire Foundation
Bonfire Foundation consistently operates at a deficit, drawing down assets for over a decade.
EIN: 134039331 · Farmington, CT · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Bonfire Foundation Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Bonfire Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Bonfire Foundation
Bonfire Foundation (EIN: 134039331) is a nonprofit organization based in Farmington, CT. The organization reported total revenue of $553K and total assets of $1.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Bonfire 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 Bonfire Foundation with a Mission Score of 35 out of 100 (Poor). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Bonfire Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Officer compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, suggesting either a fully volunteer-led organization or that executive compensation is not separately itemized and is included within other expense categories, which could obscure a complete picture of spending.
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 Bonfire Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits for over a decade (e.g., 2023: Revenue $44,384, Expenses $136,637).
- Significant and continuous decline in total assets (from $2,030,097 in 2011 to $1,194,471 in 2023).
- Revenue has been negative in some past periods (e.g., -$373,380 in 2011), indicating potential financial instability or unusual accounting events.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided data makes efficiency assessment difficult.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Bonfire Foundation:
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating a commitment to regulatory transparency.
- Minimal reported liabilities ($0 or $1 across all filings), suggesting good debt management.
- No reported officer compensation, which could indicate a volunteer-driven leadership or efficient use of funds if compensation is truly absent.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bonfire Foundation
Is Bonfire Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bonfire Foundation (EIN: 134039331) significant concerns. Mission Score: 35/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Bonfire Foundation spend its money?
Bonfire Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Bonfire Foundation tax-deductible?
Bonfire Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134039331). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Bonfire Foundation financially sustainable?
Based on the provided data, Bonfire Foundation is not financially sustainable. It has consistently spent more than it earned for over a decade, leading to a significant decline in its asset base from over $2 million in 2011 to $1.19 million in 2023.
What is the primary reason for the decline in assets?
The primary reason for the decline in assets is the consistent operational deficit, where annual expenses have significantly outpaced annual revenues in every reported period, forcing the organization to draw from its reserves.
How does the organization cover its operational deficits?
The organization appears to cover its operational deficits by liquidating or drawing down its existing assets, as evidenced by the continuous decrease in total assets over the past decade while expenses consistently exceed revenue.
What is the organization's current financial outlook?
The current financial outlook for Bonfire Foundation is challenging. With 2023 revenue at $44,384 and expenses at $136,637, the organization continues to operate at a substantial loss, indicating a need for significant changes to its revenue generation or expense management to avoid further asset depletion.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Bonfire Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Total assets decreased by 41.2% over the same period, from $2.0M to $1.2M. Total functional expenses fell by 13.2%, from $157K to $137K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Bonfire Foundation reported a deficit of $92K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $1.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $1.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $44K | $137K | $1.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $106K | $170K | $1.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $152K | $188K | $1.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $108K | $174K | $1.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $96K | $164K | $1.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $106K | $126K | $1.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $117K | $139K | $1.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $91K | $112K | $1.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $-211,959 | $119K | $1.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $-373,380 | $157K | $2.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $44K, expenses of $137K, and assets of $1.2M (revenue -58.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $106K, expenses of $170K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue -30.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $152K, expenses of $188K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +39.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $108K, expenses of $174K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +12.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $96K, expenses of $164K, and assets of $1.5M (revenue -8.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $106K, expenses of $126K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue -9.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $117K, expenses of $139K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +27.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $91K, expenses of $112K, and assets of $1.7M.
- 2012: Revenue of $-211,959, expenses of $119K, and assets of $1.7M.
- 2011: Revenue of $-373,380, expenses of $157K, and assets of $2.0M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Bonfire 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.