Civis Foundation
Civis Foundation experiences extreme revenue volatility, including a negative revenue year, while maintaining substantial assets and reporting no officer compensation.
EIN: 136215329 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $26.6M |
| Total Expenses | $15.0M |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $88 |
| Net Assets | $72.3M |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Civis Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Civis Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Civis Foundation
Civis Foundation (EIN: 136215329) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $26.6M and total assets of $88.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Civis Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Civis Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 59 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023).
Financial Trends
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -106.4% | +30.9% | -15.7% |
| 2022 | -79.7% | -3.3% | +6.0% |
| 2021 | +1304.8% | +43.7% | +487.8% |
| 2020 | -26.4% | -24.5% | -11.5% |
| 2019 | -22.0% | +11.0% | -31.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1967 |
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 Civis 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: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Civis Foundation 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:
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Civis Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation is paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets exceeding $88 million.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Civis Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Extreme revenue volatility, including a negative revenue year in 2023 ($-1,050,089), which raises questions about financial stability and funding sources.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, making it difficult to assess spending efficiency.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation for an organization with significant assets and expenses, which is unusual and warrants further investigation into leadership compensation structures.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Civis Foundation:
- Substantial and growing asset base, reaching $88,060,938, indicating strong financial reserves.
- Transparency in reporting 0% officer compensation, suggesting a commitment to minimizing executive pay or a volunteer-led leadership structure.
- Demonstrated ability to manage significant financial resources, as evidenced by large revenue years like $81,147,159 in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions about Civis Foundation
Is Civis Foundation a legitimate charity?
Civis Foundation (EIN: 136215329) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $26.6M. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Civis Foundation spend its money?
Civis Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Civis Foundation tax-deductible?
Civis Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136215329). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Civis Foundation CEO make?
Civis Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $88 annually. The organization reported $26.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Civis Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Civis Foundation directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Civis Foundation located?
Civis Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 136215329.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Civis Foundation have?
Civis 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 $26.6M in total revenue.
What caused the negative revenue of $-1,050,089 in 2023?
The negative revenue in 2023 could be due to significant investment losses, a return of grants, or a major accounting adjustment. Further detail from the full 990 filing would be needed to understand this anomaly.
How does Civis Foundation fund its operations given the revenue volatility?
The organization likely relies on its substantial asset base ($88,060,938 in the latest period) and potentially prior year surpluses, such as the $81 million revenue in 2021, to cover expenses during periods of low or negative revenue.
What is the breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided data does not include a functional expense breakdown. This information is crucial for assessing how efficiently the organization allocates its resources towards its mission versus overhead.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0%?
A consistent 0% officer compensation suggests that key leadership roles may be filled by volunteers, compensated through a related entity, or that compensation is structured in a way not captured under 'officer compensation' on the 990 summary.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Civis Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Civis Foundation's revenue has declined by 126.3%, moving from $4.0M to $-1,050,089. Total assets increased by 190.6% over the same period, from $25.6M to $74.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 182.4%, from $5.3M to $15.0M. The organization holds $2.2M in liabilities against $74.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.0%), resulting in net assets of $72.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $-1,050,089 | $15.0M | $74.5M | $2.2M | — | — |
| 2022 | $16.5M | $11.5M | $88.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $81.1M | $11.9M | $83.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $5.8M | $8.3M | $14.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $7.8M | $11.0M | $16.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $10.1M | $9.9M | $23.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $15.8M | $14.6M | $23.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $12.9M | $14.1M | $22.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.9M | $6.2M | $23.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.0M | $5.3M | $25.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $-1,050,089, expenses of $15.0M, and assets of $74.5M (revenue -106.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $16.5M, expenses of $11.5M, and assets of $88.4M (revenue -79.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $81.1M, expenses of $11.9M, and assets of $83.5M (revenue +1304.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.8M, expenses of $8.3M, and assets of $14.2M (revenue -26.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $7.8M, expenses of $11.0M, and assets of $16.0M (revenue -22.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $9.9M, and assets of $23.5M (revenue -36.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $15.8M, expenses of $14.6M, and assets of $23.3M (revenue +22.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $12.9M, expenses of $14.1M, and assets of $22.1M (revenue +229.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $23.4M (revenue -2.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $25.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Civis Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Civis 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.