Castanea Foundation Inc
Castanea Foundation Inc. faces significant financial challenges with consistent negative revenues and declining assets.
EIN: 202727759 · Montpelier, VT · NTEE: C34 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $153K |
| Total Expenses | $849K |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $5.4M |
| Transparency Score | 45/100 |
Is Castanea Foundation Inc Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Castanea Foundation Inc directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Castanea Foundation Inc
Castanea Foundation Inc (EIN: 202727759) is a nonprofit organization based in Montpelier, VT, classified under NTEE code C34. The organization reported total revenue of $153K and total assets of $5.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Castanea Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Castanea Foundation Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -38.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $10K |
| Total Expenses | $849K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-838,871 |
| Total Assets | $5.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $19K |
| Net Assets | $5.4M |
| Operating Margin | -8441.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 76.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Castanea Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $839K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 76.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2012–2023), Castanea Foundation Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -38.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -191.6% | -62.9% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | -111.6% | -8.5% | -29.1% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
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 Castanea Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 45 out of 100 (Fair). 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, Castanea Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $839K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers or key employees received compensation, which is a positive sign for resource allocation and transparency relative to the organization's size and declining financial health.
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 Castanea Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent negative revenue in recent years (e.g., -$75,698 in 2022, -$83,951 in 2021).
- Expenses significantly exceeding revenue for multiple periods (e.g., $848,809 expenses vs. $9,938 revenue in 2023).
- Steady decline in total assets over time, from $10.2M in 2016 to $5.4M in 2023, indicating asset depletion.
- Lack of clear, positive, and sustainable income streams.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Castanea Foundation Inc:
- 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating no direct compensation to executives.
- Long filing history (10 filings), suggesting consistent compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions about Castanea Foundation Inc
Is Castanea Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Castanea Foundation Inc (EIN: 202727759) significant concerns. Mission Score: 45/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
How does Castanea Foundation Inc spend its money?
Castanea Foundation Inc directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Castanea Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Castanea Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 202727759). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Castanea Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
Castanea Foundation Inc directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Castanea Foundation Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 45/100 (Fair), Castanea Foundation Inc is near average for NTEE category C34 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Castanea Foundation Inc located?
Castanea Foundation Inc is headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont and files with the IRS under EIN 202727759. It is classified under NTEE code C34.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Castanea Foundation Inc have?
Castanea Foundation Inc 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 $153K in total revenue.
What is the source of Castanea Foundation Inc.'s consistent negative revenue in recent years?
The provided data shows negative revenue figures for several periods (e.g., -$75,698 in 2022, -$83,951 in 2021, -$142,952 in 2019). This could indicate significant investment losses, returns of grants, or other non-operating income adjustments that result in a net negative figure, rather than traditional earned income.
How does Castanea Foundation Inc. sustain its operations with such large and consistent deficits?
The organization appears to be sustaining operations by drawing down its assets, which have decreased from over $10 million in 2016 to approximately $5.4 million in 2023. This is not a sustainable long-term strategy without a significant change in revenue generation or expense management.
What are the specific program activities and their associated costs, given the high expenses relative to revenue?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, or fundraising categories. Without this information, it's difficult to assess how the significant expenses (e.g., $848,809 in 2023) are being allocated to mission-related activities.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Castanea Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), Castanea Foundation Inc's revenue has declined by 99.5%, moving from $2.1M to $10K. Total assets decreased by 28.3% over the same period, from $7.6M to $5.4M. Total functional expenses fell by 1.7%, from $864K to $849K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Castanea Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $839K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $19K in liabilities against $5.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%), resulting in net assets of $5.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $10K | $849K | $5.4M | $19K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $-75,698 | $405K | $6.3M | $14K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $-83,951 | $137K | $6.7M | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $92K | $370K | $6.9M | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $-142,952 | $549K | $7.3M | $146K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.2M | $600K | $10.3M | $270K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $573K | $602K | $9.5M | $75K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.2M | $836K | $9.5M | $114K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.0M | $1.0M | $8.4M | $362K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.1M | $864K | $7.6M | $525K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $10K, expenses of $849K, and assets of $5.4M.
- 2022: Revenue of $-75,698, expenses of $405K, and assets of $6.3M.
- 2021: Revenue of $-83,951, expenses of $137K, and assets of $6.7M (revenue -191.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $92K, expenses of $370K, and assets of $6.9M.
- 2019: Revenue of $-142,952, expenses of $549K, and assets of $7.3M (revenue -111.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $600K, and assets of $10.3M (revenue +115.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $573K, expenses of $602K, and assets of $9.5M (revenue -73.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $836K, and assets of $9.5M (revenue +7.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $8.4M (revenue -3.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $864K, and assets of $7.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Castanea Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Castanea 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.