Chiaroscuro Foundation
Chiaroscuro Foundation's revenue has declined by over 78% since its 2014 peak, raising sustainability concerns.
EIN: 205858767 · New York, NY · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.0M |
| Total Expenses | $6.1M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $75K |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Chiaroscuro Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Chiaroscuro Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Chiaroscuro Foundation
Chiaroscuro Foundation (EIN: 205858767) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $2.0M and total assets of $147K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Chiaroscuro Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Chiaroscuro Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2015). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $6.0M |
| Total Expenses | $6.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-118,969 |
| Total Assets | $75K |
| Net Assets | $75K |
| Operating Margin | -2.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 0.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2015, Chiaroscuro Foundation reported a deficit of $119K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 0.1 months of operating reserves (limited).
Financial Trends
Over 5 years of filings (2011–2015), Chiaroscuro Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | -35.3% | -33.8% | -62.2% |
| 2014 | +17.2% | +19.0% | +21.7% |
| 2013 | +154.4% | +134.8% | +1997.1% |
| 2012 | -33.5% | -26.9% | -96.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
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 Chiaroscuro Foundation with a Mission Score of 65 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: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Chiaroscuro Foundation 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 (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $119K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization of its past revenue size and suggests either pro-bono leadership or compensation is covered by another entity.
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 Chiaroscuro Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant and consistent decline in annual revenue over recent years, from $9.3M in 2014 to $2M currently.
- Expenses frequently exceeded revenue in past periods (e.g., 2015, 2012), indicating potential operating deficits.
- Unusually consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, which could mask executive costs if covered by a related entity.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Chiaroscuro Foundation:
- Consistently reported 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
- Maintained low liabilities across all reported periods, suggesting responsible debt management.
- Historically managed substantial revenue and expenses, demonstrating capacity for large-scale operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chiaroscuro Foundation
Is Chiaroscuro Foundation a legitimate charity?
Chiaroscuro Foundation (EIN: 205858767) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.0M. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Chiaroscuro Foundation spend its money?
Chiaroscuro Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Chiaroscuro Foundation tax-deductible?
Chiaroscuro Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205858767). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Chiaroscuro Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Chiaroscuro Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Chiaroscuro Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Chiaroscuro Foundation is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Chiaroscuro Foundation located?
Chiaroscuro Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 205858767. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Chiaroscuro Foundation have?
Chiaroscuro Foundation has 5 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 $2.0M in total revenue.
What caused the significant decline in revenue from $9.3M in 2014 to $2M currently?
The provided data does not specify the reasons for the revenue decline, but it is a critical area for further investigation to understand the organization's financial health and future sustainability.
How does the organization manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent 0% officer compensation suggests either a fully volunteer leadership, or that executive salaries are covered by a related entity or through other means not reported as direct compensation from the foundation, which warrants further inquiry for complete financial transparency.
Is the Chiaroscuro Foundation financially sustainable given its recent revenue trends?
The sharp decline in revenue and instances where expenses exceeded revenue in past periods raise significant concerns about the organization's long-term financial sustainability without a clear strategy to reverse these trends.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Chiaroscuro Foundation showing financial trends over 5 years of public records:
Over 5 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2015), Chiaroscuro Foundation's revenue has grown by 28.1%, moving from $4.7M to $6.0M. Total assets decreased by 63.8% over the same period, from $208K to $75K. Total functional expenses rose by 35.3%, from $4.5M to $6.1M. In its most recent filing year (2015), Chiaroscuro Foundation reported a deficit of $119K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $6.0M | $6.1M | $75K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $9.3M | $9.3M | $198K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $8.0M | $7.8M | $163K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.1M | $3.3M | $8K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.7M | $4.5M | $208K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2015: Revenue of $6.0M, expenses of $6.1M, and assets of $75K (revenue -35.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $9.3M, expenses of $9.3M, and assets of $198K (revenue +17.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $8.0M, expenses of $7.8M, and assets of $163K (revenue +154.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $8K (revenue -33.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $208K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Chiaroscuro Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Chiaroscuro 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.