Chris Hess Foundation
Chris Hess Foundation maintains substantial assets despite volatile revenue and recent operational deficits.
EIN: 16225742 · Wheeling, WV · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.1M |
| Total Expenses | $453K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $10 |
| Net Assets | $10.3M |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Chris Hess Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Chris Hess Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Chris Hess Foundation
Chris Hess Foundation (EIN: 16225742) is a nonprofit organization based in Wheeling, WV, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $3.1M and total assets of $10.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Chris Hess Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Chris Hess Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 23 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -19.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $371K |
| Total Expenses | $453K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-81,749 |
| Total Assets | $10.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $29K |
| Net Assets | $10.3M |
| Operating Margin | -22.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 272.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Chris Hess Foundation reported a deficit of $82K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 272.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Chris Hess Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -19.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +117.2% | -13.0% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | -87.8% | -26.5% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | +98.0% | +2.8% | +6.9% |
| 2020 | -37.8% | +17.3% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | +105.0% | -15.2% | +4.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2003 |
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 Chris Hess Foundation with a Mission Score of 75 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, Chris Hess 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 (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $82K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers either serve on a volunteer basis or receive very minimal compensation not categorized as officer pay, which is highly favorable for an organization with over $10 million in assets.
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 Chris Hess Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Highly volatile revenue streams, making consistent financial planning difficult.
- Operational deficits in multiple recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022), indicating expenses exceeding revenue.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in provided summary data.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Chris Hess Foundation:
- Substantial and stable asset base, consistently over $10 million, providing financial security.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), demonstrating commitment to transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Hess Foundation
Is Chris Hess Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Chris Hess Foundation (EIN: 16225742) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Chris Hess Foundation spend its money?
Chris Hess Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Chris Hess Foundation tax-deductible?
Chris Hess Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 16225742). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Chris Hess Foundation CEO make?
Chris Hess Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $10 annually. The organization reported $3.1M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Chris Hess Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Chris Hess Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Chris Hess Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Chris Hess Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Chris Hess Foundation located?
Chris Hess Foundation is headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia and files with the IRS under EIN 16225742. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Chris Hess Foundation have?
Chris Hess Foundation 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 $3.1M in total revenue.
Is Chris Hess Foundation a good charity?
The Chris Hess Foundation appears to be a reasonably good charity, particularly given its strong asset base of over $10 million and consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation. However, its highly volatile revenue and recent operational deficits (e.g., $370,998 revenue vs. $452,747 expenses in 2023) suggest potential challenges in consistent program funding, which warrants further investigation into its program impact and sustainability.
How does the foundation manage its significant asset base?
With assets consistently over $10 million, the foundation possesses a substantial endowment. The recurring operational deficits in recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2015) suggest that the organization may be drawing from its asset base to cover expenses when revenue is insufficient, indicating a reliance on investment returns or principal for operations.
What is the trend in the foundation's revenue?
The foundation's revenue has been extremely volatile, ranging from a high of $4,771,019 in 2011 to a low of $170,781 in 2022. The latest revenue of $370,998 in 2023 is significantly lower than its peak years, indicating an inconsistent funding stream.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Chris Hess Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Chris Hess Foundation's revenue has declined by 92.2%, moving from $4.8M to $371K. Total assets increased by 23.1% over the same period, from $8.4M to $10.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 47.7%, from $307K to $453K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Chris Hess Foundation reported a deficit of $82K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $29K in liabilities against $10.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.3%), resulting in net assets of $10.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $371K | $453K | $10.3M | $29K | — | — |
| 2022 | $171K | $520K | $10.4M | $34K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.4M | $708K | $10.7M | $44K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $706K | $688K | $10.1M | $51K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.1M | $587K | $10.0M | $50K | — | — |
| 2015 | $554K | $692K | $9.6M | $27K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.4M | $734K | $9.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.4M | $599K | $9.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $429K | $525K | $8.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.8M | $307K | $8.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $371K, expenses of $453K, and assets of $10.3M (revenue +117.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $171K, expenses of $520K, and assets of $10.4M (revenue -87.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $708K, and assets of $10.7M (revenue +98.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $706K, expenses of $688K, and assets of $10.1M (revenue -37.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $587K, and assets of $10.0M (revenue +105.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $554K, expenses of $692K, and assets of $9.6M (revenue -61.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $734K, and assets of $9.7M (revenue +6.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $599K, and assets of $9.0M (revenue +218.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $429K, expenses of $525K, and assets of $8.3M (revenue -91.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $307K, and assets of $8.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Chris Hess Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Chris Hess 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.