Bruner Foundation Inc
Bruner Foundation maintains strong asset base with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 136180803 · Cambridge, MA · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.7M |
| Total Expenses | $569K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $8,237,782 |
| Net Assets | $8.2M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Bruner Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Bruner Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Bruner Foundation Inc
Bruner Foundation Inc (EIN: 136180803) is a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, MA. The organization reported total revenue of $1.7M and total assets of $8.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Bruner Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Bruner Foundation Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 58 years, with 7 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2019). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 14.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $690K |
| Total Expenses | $569K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$121K |
| Total Assets | $8.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $17K |
| Net Assets | $8.2M |
| Operating Margin | 17.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 173.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2019, Bruner Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $121K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 173.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.2% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 7 years of filings (2010–2019), Bruner Foundation Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +57.3% | -4.7% | +32.0% |
| 2015 | +14.6% | +17.4% | -10.7% |
| 2014 | -24.9% | -25.3% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | +218.6% | +39.9% | +19.7% |
| 2012 | -32.9% | +3.2% | +3.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1968 |
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 Bruner Foundation Inc 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, Bruner Foundation Inc 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 (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $121K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.2%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Bruner Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries or other compensation are paid to its officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its asset size ($8,237,782).
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 Bruner Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending in multiple past periods (e.g., 201512, 201412, 201312, 201212, 201112, 201012) where expenses exceeded revenue.
- Lack of detailed NTEE code information, making it difficult to understand the specific mission area.
- Unusually low or zero reported officer compensation for an organization with over $8 million in assets, which might warrant further investigation into how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Bruner Foundation Inc:
- Strong and growing asset base, reaching $8,237,782 in the latest filing, providing financial stability.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating a potentially very lean administrative structure at the executive level.
- Latest filing (201912) shows revenue exceeding expenses ($690,029 vs. $568,820), indicating improved financial management in that period.
- Consistent public filing of IRS 990 forms, demonstrating transparency in financial reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bruner Foundation Inc
Is Bruner Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bruner Foundation Inc (EIN: 136180803) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Bruner Foundation Inc spend its money?
Bruner Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Bruner Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Bruner Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136180803). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Bruner Foundation Inc CEO make?
Bruner Foundation Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $8,237,782 annually. The organization reported $1.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Bruner Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
Bruner Foundation Inc directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Bruner Foundation Inc located?
Bruner Foundation Inc is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and files with the IRS under EIN 136180803.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Bruner Foundation Inc have?
Bruner Foundation Inc has 7 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 $1.7M in total revenue.
How does the Bruner Foundation Inc. manage to operate with zero reported officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that the foundation's leadership may be entirely volunteer-based, or compensation is structured in a way that is not reported as 'officer compensation' on the 990, such as through a related entity or as contractor fees. This is a significant operational characteristic for an organization with over $8 million in assets.
What are the primary program activities funded by the Bruner Foundation Inc. given its financial scale?
While the provided data indicates the foundation's financial scale with assets of $8,237,782 and latest revenue of $690,029, the NTEE code is unknown, and specific program details are not available in this summary. A deeper dive into the full 990 forms would be necessary to identify its primary program areas and beneficiaries.
Has the Bruner Foundation Inc. consistently operated at a surplus or deficit?
The foundation's financial performance has varied. In the latest period (201912), it reported a surplus with revenue of $690,029 exceeding expenses of $568,820. However, in previous periods like 201512, 201412, 201312, 201212, 201112, and 201012, expenses consistently exceeded revenue, indicating periods of deficit spending, likely drawing from its substantial asset base.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Bruner Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 7 years of public records:
Over 7 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2019), Bruner Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 235.2%, moving from $206K to $690K. Total assets increased by 26% over the same period, from $6.5M to $8.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 38.6%, from $410K to $569K. In its most recent filing year (2019), Bruner Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $121K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $17K in liabilities against $8.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.2%), resulting in net assets of $8.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $690K | $569K | $8.2M | $17K | — | — |
| 2015 | $439K | $597K | $6.2M | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $383K | $508K | $7.0M | $21K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $509K | $680K | $7.0M | $14K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $160K | $486K | $5.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $238K | $471K | $5.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $206K | $410K | $6.5M | $17K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2019: Revenue of $690K, expenses of $569K, and assets of $8.2M (revenue +57.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $439K, expenses of $597K, and assets of $6.2M (revenue +14.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $383K, expenses of $508K, and assets of $7.0M (revenue -24.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $509K, expenses of $680K, and assets of $7.0M (revenue +218.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $160K, expenses of $486K, and assets of $5.8M (revenue -32.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $238K, expenses of $471K, and assets of $5.6M (revenue +15.6% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $206K, expenses of $410K, and assets of $6.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Bruner Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Bruner Foundation Inc 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.