Claws Foundation
Claws Foundation experiences extreme revenue and expense volatility, maintaining low liabilities and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 201658710 · Reston, VA · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $377K |
| Total Expenses | $30.2M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $0 |
| Net Assets | $24.6M |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Is Claws Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Claws Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Claws Foundation
Claws Foundation (EIN: 201658710) is a nonprofit organization based in Reston, VA, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $377K and total assets of $6.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Claws Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Claws Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 12.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $44.8M |
| Total Expenses | $30.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$14.7M |
| Total Assets | $24.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $24.6M |
| Operating Margin | 32.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 9.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Claws Foundation reported a surplus of $14.7M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 9.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Claws Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +322.3% | -20.2% | +148.1% |
| 2022 | +511.9% | -17.1% | -73.3% |
| 2021 | -98.4% | +25.5% | -54.2% |
| 2020 | +971.5% | +303.4% | +983.0% |
| 2019 | -58.0% | -47.9% | -62.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
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 Claws 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, Claws 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 (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $14.7M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Claws Foundation consistently reports $0 in officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a fully volunteer executive leadership or that executive compensation is categorized differently, which could affect the clarity of leadership costs relative to the organization's size and financial activity.
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 Claws Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Extreme revenue volatility (e.g., $1.7M in 2021 to $109.7M in 2020)
- Significant expense overruns in multiple years (e.g., 2021 expenses $45.5M vs. revenue $1.7M)
- Unusually low reported liabilities ($1 in most recent filings) which may indicate incomplete reporting or specific accounting practices.
- Consistent $0 officer compensation reported, which may obscure actual leadership costs or structure.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Claws Foundation:
- Strong asset base providing financial stability (e.g., $24.5M in 2023, $80.8M in 2020)
- Ability to generate substantial revenue in peak years (e.g., $44.8M in 2023, $109.7M in 2020)
- Minimal reported liabilities, indicating a healthy balance sheet in terms of debt.
- Positive net income in several years, allowing for asset growth and future program investment (e.g., 2023 revenue $44.8M vs. expenses $30.1M).
Frequently Asked Questions about Claws Foundation
Is Claws Foundation a legitimate charity?
Claws Foundation (EIN: 201658710) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Virginia. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $377K. 4 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Claws Foundation spend its money?
Claws Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Claws Foundation tax-deductible?
Claws Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201658710). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Claws Foundation CEO make?
Claws Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $0 annually. The organization reported $377K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Claws Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Claws Foundation directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Claws Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 70/100 (Good), Claws 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 Claws Foundation located?
Claws Foundation is headquartered in Reston, Virginia and files with the IRS under EIN 201658710. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Claws Foundation have?
Claws 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 $377K in total revenue.
What causes the extreme year-to-year fluctuations in Claws Foundation's revenue and expenses?
The IRS 990 data shows revenue ranging from $1.7 million (2021) to $109.7 million (2020) and expenses from $9 million (2019) to $45.5 million (2021). Understanding the underlying drivers of these swings, such as large one-time grants or specific project cycles, is crucial for assessing financial stability.
How does Claws Foundation manage significant expense overruns in certain years, such as 2021 ($1.7M revenue vs. $45.5M expenses)?
In years like 2021 and 2022, expenses far exceeded revenue. This suggests reliance on accumulated assets from prior profitable years (e.g., $80.8M assets in 2020) or significant non-cash expenses. Clarification on how these deficits are covered is important.
Is the $0 officer compensation reported across all filings accurate, and if so, how is executive leadership compensated or structured?
The consistent reporting of $0 for officer compensation is unusual for an organization with multi-million dollar revenues and assets. It raises questions about whether executive roles are entirely volunteer-based or if compensation is reported under other expense categories, impacting transparency.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses for Claws Foundation?
While the provided data shows total expenses, a functional breakdown is not available. This information is critical for evaluating spending efficiency and ensuring a high percentage of funds directly support the mission.
Given the NTEE code T20 (Animal Protection & Welfare), how effectively are the organization's programs impacting its mission?
Without program-specific metrics or a detailed program expense breakdown, it's challenging to assess the direct impact of the significant financial activity on animal protection and welfare outcomes.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Claws Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Claws Foundation's revenue has grown by 314.4%, moving from $10.8M to $44.8M. Total assets increased by 532% over the same period, from $3.9M to $24.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 153%, from $11.9M to $30.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Claws Foundation reported a surplus of $14.7M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $24.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $24.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $44.8M | $30.2M | $24.6M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $10.6M | $37.8M | $9.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.7M | $45.6M | $37.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $109.7M | $36.3M | $80.9M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $10.2M | $9.0M | $7.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $24.4M | $17.3M | $20.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $21.9M | $15.3M | $12.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $17.5M | $15.3M | $6.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $11.2M | $11.1M | $4.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $10.8M | $11.9M | $3.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $44.8M, expenses of $30.2M, and assets of $24.6M (revenue +322.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $10.6M, expenses of $37.8M, and assets of $9.9M (revenue +511.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $45.6M, and assets of $37.1M (revenue -98.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $109.7M, expenses of $36.3M, and assets of $80.9M (revenue +971.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $10.2M, expenses of $9.0M, and assets of $7.5M (revenue -58.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $24.4M, expenses of $17.3M, and assets of $20.0M (revenue +11.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $21.9M, expenses of $15.3M, and assets of $12.9M (revenue +25.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $17.5M, expenses of $15.3M, and assets of $6.3M (revenue +55.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $11.2M, expenses of $11.1M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +3.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $10.8M, expenses of $11.9M, and assets of $3.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Claws Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Claws 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.