Charity Navigator

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Charity Navigator Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals

Charity Navigator 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 Charity Navigator in one place.

Is Charity Navigator 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

Across stored filings, Charity Navigator shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.

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Keep the Investigation Moving

Charity Navigator directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator (EIN: 134148824) is a nonprofit organization based in Boone, IA, classified under NTEE code P19. The organization reported total revenue of $8.5M and total assets of $8.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Charity Navigator's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

Charity Navigator is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 24 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 11.1%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Financial Health Grade: B

In 2023, Charity Navigator reported a deficit of $4.1M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 13.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 7.8% (very low leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 12 years of filings (2012–2023), Charity Navigator's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%.

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

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 Charity Navigator 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: 10%
• programs: 80%
• fundraising: 10%

According to IRS 990 filings, Charity Navigator allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% 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 $4.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
• Debt-to-asset ratio: 7.8%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating a high level of transparency and a potential commitment to minimizing leadership overhead, which is commendable for an organization of its size with assets reaching over $9 million.

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 Charity Navigator's IRS 990 filings:

• Significant operating deficit in the most recent fiscal year (202306), with expenses ($8,354,061) more than double revenue ($4,237,155).
• High revenue volatility, with a drastic drop from $14,269,364 in 2022 to $4,237,155 in 2023.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Charity Navigator:

• Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating strong transparency in this area.
• Significant growth in assets over the past decade, from $2,552,851 in 2015 to $9,521,081 in 2023, providing a strong financial foundation.
• Demonstrated ability to generate substantial revenue, as evidenced by the $14,269,364 reported in 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions about Charity Navigator

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Charity Navigator showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:

Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), Charity Navigator's revenue has grown by 218%, moving from $1.3M to $4.2M. Total assets increased by 294.2% over the same period, from $2.4M to $9.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 602%, from $1.2M to $8.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Charity Navigator reported a deficit of $4.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $743K in liabilities against $9.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 7.8%), resulting in net assets of $8.8M.

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

• 2023: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $8.4M, and assets of $9.5M (revenue -70.3% year-over-year).
• 2022: Revenue of $14.3M, expenses of $7.0M, and assets of $11.8M (revenue +143.7% year-over-year).
• 2021: Revenue of $5.9M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $6.2M (revenue +42.6% year-over-year).
• 2020: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $4.3M (revenue +10.2% year-over-year).
• 2019: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $3.7M (revenue -4.8% year-over-year).
• 2018: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $3.8M (revenue +15.2% year-over-year).
• 2017: Revenue of $3.4M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +112.9% year-over-year).
• 2016: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $2.8M (revenue -9.5% year-over-year).
• 2015: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $2.6M (revenue -2.5% year-over-year).
• 2014: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue +11.6% year-over-year).
• 2013: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $2.7M (revenue +21.6% year-over-year).
• 2012: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $2.4M.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Charity Navigator:

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Charity Navigator 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.