Challenger Foundation
Challenger Foundation maintains substantial assets despite volatile revenue and expenses, with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 137109402 · Garden City, NY · NTEE: T20Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
Source Check Matrix
What Has Been Verified vs. What Needs Human Review
Identity resolved verified
Challenger Foundation is mapped to EIN 137109402.
IRS BMF exempt record needs review
Open IRS TEOS or BMF source before relying on exemption status.
IRS Pub 78 deductibility needs review
Pub 78 eligibility should be verified in IRS TEOS before money changes hands.
IRS automatic revocation needs review
Check the official auto-revocation bulk source or cached evidence before relying on current exemption.
IRS Form 990 index verified
11 stored filing years available.
Raw 990 source linked
Open ProPublica to verify the raw filing record and PDFs.
Filing depth verified
11 stored filing years available.
State charity registration manual confirmation
Open New York charities registry; the workflow stops for human confirmation unless a stable source is cached.
Candid / GuideStar profile api pending
Candid API access is not configured; open manually and do not count as verified evidence.
Charity Navigator rating api pending
Charity Navigator API access is not configured; open manually and do not count as verified evidence.
Source and Resolution Links
Finish the Investigation Outside Our Dataset
When the answer lives with the IRS, ProPublica, Candid, Charity Navigator, or the nonprofit itself, NonprofitSpending links out instead of trapping the user on a partial answer.
IRS tax-exempt lookup
Verify exemption status and deductibility directly with the IRS.
IRS bulk evidence downloads
Check Pub 78, automatic revocation, 990-N, and Form 990 bulk evidence sources.
IRS EO BMF extract
Open the official Business Master File extract source for tax-exempt organization records.
ProPublica 990 source
Open the raw filing record and filing PDFs outside NonprofitSpending.
New York charities registry
Confirm state charity registration or solicitation status where applicable.
Candid profile search
Look for GuideStar/Candid profile details, programs, leadership, and seals.
Charity Navigator search
Check whether another evaluator has ratings or impact context.
Workflow Engine
Queries We Should Resolve, Not Just Answer
Search Console demand points to task completion. Each workflow can run calculations, source checks, external lookups, comparisons, and report/export capture around this nonprofit.
Verify tax status Runnable
Triggered by: 501(c)(3), tax deductible, EIN
IRS status check plus source links
Verify official evidence Runnable
Triggered by: IRS Pub 78, BMF, revocation, 990 index, state registration
Official-source evidence matrix with human stops where a state portal must be checked.
Resolve tax deductibility Runnable
Triggered by: is my donation tax deductible, Pub 78, donor receipt
Pub 78, BMF, and revocation checks turned into a donor-safe deductibility path.
Check state solicitation Runnable
Triggered by: allowed to solicit, charity registration, state compliance
Official state regulator route with human confirmation when no reliable API exists.
Find source filings Runnable
Triggered by: 990 PDF, annual report, filing record
11 stored filing years plus ProPublica source
Crunch money signals Runnable
Triggered by: program expense ratio, CEO salary, revenue, grants
75% program spend, health grade A
Compare alternatives Runnable
Triggered by: best charities, similar nonprofits, compare
4 peer options surfaced
Resolve leadership and board Runnable
Triggered by: executive team, trustees, officer pay
Use 990 compensation disclosures and external profile links.
Analyze executive compensation Runnable
Triggered by: CEO salary, excessive compensation, officer pay
Officer-pay context against revenue, filings, state/category compensation, and source records.
Donation decision copilot Runnable
Triggered by: should I donate, give or compare, charity safety
Eligibility, money signals, sources, peer context, and next action.
Grantmaker due diligence Runnable
Triggered by: foundation review, grant risk, grantee capacity
Foundation-style packet across filings, finances, governance, and gaps.
Build grant/funder shortlist Runnable
Triggered by: find funders, grantee shortlist, mission fit
Geography, cause, evidence gaps, and peers converted into a funder/grantee action path.
Impact evidence finder Runnable
Triggered by: outcomes, annual report, cost effectiveness
Separate actual impact evidence from raw 990 financial cleanliness.
Room for more funding Runnable
Triggered by: would my donation help, funding gap, marginal impact
Revenue trend, runway, surplus/deficit, and source follow-ups.
Operator transparency diagnostic Runnable
Triggered by: how does my nonprofit look to donors
Profile, filing, impact, and transparency improvements to earn trust.
Create compliance monitor Runnable
Triggered by: watch new 990, revocation, Pub 78, registration changes
Monitoring plan for IRS status, new filings, revocation signals, and state follow-ups.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $6.7M |
| Total Expenses | $252K |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $23.1M |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
Challenger Foundation Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
Challenger Foundation is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Challenger Foundation in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
11 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $1.2M and expenses of $252K.
Revenue and Expenses
Challenger Foundation reported $1.2M in revenue and $252K in expenses, a surplus of $916K.
Executive Compensation
Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.
Charity Score and Red Flags
70/100 mission score, 4 red flags, and 4 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is Challenger Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $189K (75%) |
Across stored filings, Challenger Foundation shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
Decision Cockpit
One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub
| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 4 red flags identified |
| Mission spend | 75% to programs | Excellent |
| Financial durability | Grade A | 11 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Healthy Capital District Initiative | New York and Philanthropy context |
Trust Check
Review legitimacy, deductibility, red flags, and filing consistency.
Open charity check →Peer Benchmark
Compare against real state and category peers.
Compare with Healthy Capital District Initiative →All New York nonprofits
All Philanthropy
Local and Sector Spokes
Move into this nonprofit's local market, category, and sector maps.
Garden City, NY nonprofitsPhilanthropy in New York
Public Benefit in New York
Follow the Money
Jump into spending, compensation, rankings, and filing-year evidence.
State spending analysisState compensation analysis
Philanthropy spending
Best Philanthropy charities in New York
Relevant rankings
Donation Decision Flow
From Trust Check to Better Alternatives
Alternative Shopping
Similar Nonprofits Donors Should Compare
Dancing Tides Foundation Inc
Garden City, NY · $5.1M revenue · Score 85/100
Compare side-by-sideSkowhegan School Of Painting And Sculpture Inc
New York, NY · $20.8M revenue · Score 90/100
Compare side-by-sideGarrison Institute
Garrison, NY · $4.1M revenue · Score 90/100
Compare side-by-sideGreater Rochester Enterprise Foundation Inc
Rochester, NY · $2.0M revenue · Score 90/100
Compare side-by-sideNext Best Actions
Keep the Investigation Moving
Research Workflow
Turn this Form 990 profile into a donor-ready report
Request a concise report for Challenger Foundation with revenue, expenses, executive compensation, red flags, peer context, and IRS source links. You can also request CSV exports or watchlist updates for future filings.
Early access request only. Reports and exports are informational and based on public IRS records, not financial or legal advice.
Challenger Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Challenger Foundation
Challenger Foundation (EIN: 137109402) is a nonprofit organization based in Garden City, NY, classified under NTEE code T20Z. The organization reported total revenue of $6.7M and total assets of $24.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Challenger Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Challenger Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 28 years, with 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -2.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.2M |
| Total Expenses | $252K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$916K |
| Total Assets | $23.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $23.1M |
| Operating Margin | 78.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 1097.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2024, Challenger Foundation reported a surplus of $916K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 1097.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 11 years of filings (2011–2024), Challenger Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -64.7% | -92.5% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | +14.9% | +702.2% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | -27.9% | -80.4% | +8.0% |
| 2021 | +486.4% | -40.8% | +9.1% |
| 2020 | -32.9% | +80.5% | -4.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1998 |
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 Challenger Foundation with a Mission Score of 70 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Challenger Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $916K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Challenger Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all 11 available filings, suggesting either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is categorized under other expense lines, which would require further investigation for full 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 Challenger Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant year-over-year revenue and expense volatility without clear explanation in summary data.
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue in multiple periods (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2019), potentially indicating reliance on reserves or other funding sources.
- Lack of detailed breakdown for program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in the provided summary data, hindering efficiency assessment.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which may warrant further inquiry to understand leadership compensation practices.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Challenger Foundation:
- Strong and consistent asset growth over the past decade, from $16,150,134 in 2013 to $24,145,896 currently.
- Extremely low liabilities ($1 or $0 across all filings), indicating excellent financial health and minimal debt.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 11 periods, demonstrating a commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.
- Substantial current assets of $24,145,896 provide a strong financial cushion and capacity for future operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Challenger Foundation
Is Challenger Foundation a legitimate charity?
Challenger Foundation (EIN: 137109402) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $6.7M. 4 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Challenger Foundation spend its money?
Challenger Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Challenger Foundation tax-deductible?
Challenger Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 137109402). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Challenger Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Challenger Foundation directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Challenger Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 70/100 (Good), Challenger Foundation is above average for NTEE category T20Z nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Challenger Foundation located?
Challenger Foundation is headquartered in Garden City, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 137109402. It is classified under NTEE code T20Z.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Challenger Foundation have?
Challenger Foundation has 11 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 $6.7M in total revenue.
Is Challenger Foundation a good charity?
Challenger Foundation demonstrates strong asset growth and minimal liabilities, indicating financial stability. However, the significant fluctuations in revenue and expenses, coupled with the absence of detailed spending breakdowns (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) and zero reported officer compensation, make a definitive 'good' assessment challenging without further information on their operational efficiency and program impact.
How does Challenger Foundation manage its assets?
The organization has shown consistent asset growth, from $16,150,134 in 2013 to $24,145,896 currently, despite periods where expenses exceeded revenue. This suggests effective asset management and investment strategies, or significant non-operating revenue sources contributing to asset accumulation.
What is the reason for the high revenue and expense volatility?
The provided data does not specify the reasons for the significant fluctuations in revenue (e.g., $680,996 in 2020 vs. $3,993,460 in 2021) and expenses (e.g., $252,428 in 2024 vs. $3,637,794 in 2020). This could be due to project-based funding, large one-time grants, or varying operational scales year-to-year, which would require reviewing the full 990 forms for details.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Challenger Foundation showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2024), Challenger Foundation's revenue has declined by 25.6%, moving from $1.6M to $1.2M. Total assets increased by 34.6% over the same period, from $17.2M to $23.1M. Total functional expenses fell by 69%, from $813K to $252K. In its most recent filing year (2024), Challenger Foundation reported a surplus of $916K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $23.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $23.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.2M | $252K | $23.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $3.3M | $3.4M | $22.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $2.9M | $422K | $22.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.0M | $2.2M | $20.6M | $1 | — | — |
| 2020 | $681K | $3.6M | $18.9M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $1.0M | $2.0M | $19.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.8M | $1.1M | $17.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.4M | $1.2M | $16.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $634K | $912K | $16.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $706K | $1.4M | $16.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.6M | $813K | $17.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $252K, and assets of $23.1M (revenue -64.7% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $3.4M, and assets of $22.2M (revenue +14.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $422K, and assets of $22.2M (revenue -27.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $20.6M (revenue +486.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $681K, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $18.9M (revenue -32.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $19.8M (revenue -44.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $17.1M (revenue +27.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $16.3M (revenue +126.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $634K, expenses of $912K, and assets of $16.2M (revenue -10.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $706K, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $16.4M (revenue -55.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $813K, and assets of $17.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Challenger Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Challenger 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.