Booth Ferris Foundation
Booth Ferris Foundation maintains robust assets and consistent grant-making with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 136170340 · Chicago, IL · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $44.1M |
| Total Expenses | $11.7M |
| Program Spending | 95% |
| Net Assets | $202.4M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Booth Ferris Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Booth Ferris Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Booth Ferris Foundation
Booth Ferris Foundation (EIN: 136170340) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL. The organization reported total revenue of $44.1M and total assets of $203.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Booth Ferris Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Booth Ferris Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 61 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $11.0M |
| Total Expenses | $11.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-680,768 |
| Total Assets | $202.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $202.4M |
| Operating Margin | -6.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 207.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Booth Ferris Foundation reported a deficit of $681K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 207.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Booth Ferris Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +61.3% | -2.7% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | -66.2% | -1.3% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | +78.7% | +3.0% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | +17.0% | -1.9% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | +10.7% | -9.5% | +7.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1965 |
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 Booth Ferris Foundation with a Mission Score of 90 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Booth Ferris Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% 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 $681K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Booth Ferris Foundation reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and asset base. This suggests that administrative functions may be handled by volunteers, outsourced, or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, or that the foundation operates with an extremely lean, unpaid leadership structure.
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 Booth Ferris Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent '$1' liability reported without clear explanation
- Lack of detail on administrative expenses given 0% officer compensation
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Booth Ferris Foundation:
- Strong and stable asset base ($202,435,770 in 2023)
- Consistent and significant grant-making activity (e.g., $11,726,873 in expenses in 2023)
- Zero reported officer compensation, indicating highly efficient or volunteer-driven leadership
- Healthy revenue generation, with peaks like $20,264,625 in 2021
Frequently Asked Questions about Booth Ferris Foundation
Is Booth Ferris Foundation a legitimate charity?
Booth Ferris Foundation (EIN: 136170340) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $44.1M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Booth Ferris Foundation spend its money?
Booth Ferris Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Booth Ferris Foundation tax-deductible?
Booth Ferris Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136170340). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Where is Booth Ferris Foundation located?
Booth Ferris Foundation is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 136170340.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Booth Ferris Foundation have?
Booth Ferris Foundation 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 $44.1M in total revenue.
How does Booth Ferris Foundation manage its administrative functions without officer compensation?
The filings consistently show 0% officer compensation. This could imply that administrative roles are filled by volunteers, outsourced services, or that compensation is structured in a way not reported as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that the foundation operates with an entirely unpaid leadership.
What is the nature of the '$1' liability consistently reported in recent filings?
The consistent reporting of '$1' in liabilities across multiple recent filings (2020-2023) is peculiar. While financially insignificant, it might represent a placeholder, a minor recurring administrative fee, or a specific accounting practice that would require deeper insight into their financial statements to fully understand.
What is the primary focus of Booth Ferris Foundation's grant-making activities?
Based solely on the provided financial data, the specific programmatic focus (e.g., education, arts, health) cannot be determined. The data indicates consistent and substantial expenses, implying active grant distribution, but not the areas of impact.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Booth Ferris Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Booth Ferris Foundation's revenue has declined by 0.6%, moving from $11.1M to $11.0M. Total assets increased by 8.2% over the same period, from $187.1M to $202.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 11.8%, from $10.5M to $11.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Booth Ferris Foundation reported a deficit of $681K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $202.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $202.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $11.0M | $11.7M | $202.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $6.8M | $12.1M | $202.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $20.3M | $12.2M | $208.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $11.3M | $11.9M | $199.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $9.7M | $12.1M | $200.4M | $1 | — | — |
| 2015 | $8.8M | $13.4M | $186.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $19.8M | $11.0M | $196.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $14.6M | $10.7M | $187.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $10.4M | $10.7M | $186.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $11.1M | $10.5M | $187.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $11.0M, expenses of $11.7M, and assets of $202.4M (revenue +61.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $12.1M, and assets of $202.8M (revenue -66.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $20.3M, expenses of $12.2M, and assets of $208.0M (revenue +78.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $11.3M, expenses of $11.9M, and assets of $199.8M (revenue +17.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $9.7M, expenses of $12.1M, and assets of $200.4M (revenue +10.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $8.8M, expenses of $13.4M, and assets of $186.8M (revenue -55.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $19.8M, expenses of $11.0M, and assets of $196.4M (revenue +35.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $14.6M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $187.8M (revenue +40.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $10.4M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $186.1M (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $11.1M, expenses of $10.5M, and assets of $187.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Booth Ferris Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Booth Ferris 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.