Clayton Foundation
Clayton Foundation maintains substantial assets with minimal expenses and no officer compensation.
EIN: 200753128 · Knoxville, TN · NTEE: T11 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $4.2M |
| Total Expenses | $132K |
| Program Spending | 95% |
| Net Assets | $162.7M |
| Transparency Score | 95/100 |
Is Clayton Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Clayton Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Clayton Foundation
Clayton Foundation (EIN: 200753128) is a nonprofit organization based in Knoxville, TN, classified under NTEE code T11. The organization reported total revenue of $4.2M and total assets of $193.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Clayton Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Clayton Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 19.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $6.7M |
| Total Expenses | $132K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$6.6M |
| Total Assets | $162.7M |
| Net Assets | $162.7M |
| Operating Margin | 98.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 14776.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Clayton Foundation reported a surplus of $6.6M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 14776.6 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Clayton Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +102.2% | -47.4% | +24.1% |
| 2022 | -58.4% | +2.6% | -18.3% |
| 2021 | +56.1% | +36.9% | +20.6% |
| 2020 | -44.8% | +2.2% | +17.0% |
| 2019 | -82.1% | +37.7% | +24.0% |
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 Clayton Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Clayton Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% 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 $6.6M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and asset base, suggesting a volunteer-led or externally managed structure.
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 Clayton Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low reported expenses relative to assets and revenue, which might obscure the full scope of grant distributions if not fully captured in 'expenses' on the 990.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with assets exceeding $193 million, which is highly atypical and could indicate compensation is structured in a non-officer capacity or through an external management entity.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Clayton Foundation:
- Exceptional financial health with assets consistently in the hundreds of millions ($193,540,780 currently).
- Extremely low operational expenses relative to revenue and assets, indicating high efficiency (e.g., $132,126 in expenses vs. $6,742,739 in revenue in 2023).
- Zero reported liabilities across all filings, demonstrating a very strong balance sheet.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a commitment to minimizing administrative costs at the executive level.
- Consistent filing history over 13 periods, indicating good compliance and transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clayton Foundation
Is Clayton Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Clayton Foundation (EIN: 200753128) some concerns. Mission Score: 95/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Clayton Foundation spend its money?
Clayton Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Clayton Foundation tax-deductible?
Clayton Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200753128). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Clayton Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 95/100 (Excellent), Clayton Foundation is above average for NTEE category T11 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Clayton Foundation located?
Clayton Foundation is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee and files with the IRS under EIN 200753128. It is classified under NTEE code T11.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Clayton Foundation have?
Clayton Foundation has 13 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 $4.2M in total revenue.
Is Clayton Foundation a good charity?
Based on its financial data, Clayton Foundation appears to be a very good charity, particularly for its efficiency and strong financial health. It maintains substantial assets, incurs minimal expenses, and reports no officer compensation, suggesting a highly effective grant-making model.
How does Clayton Foundation spend its money?
The Clayton Foundation spends its money primarily through grants and investments, given its very low reported expenses relative to its revenue and assets. For example, in 2023, total expenses were only $132,126 against $6,742,739 in revenue, indicating that the vast majority of its financial activity is likely related to asset growth and grant disbursements, which are not fully captured in 'expenses' on the 990 in the same way as direct program costs for service delivery organizations.
What is the primary source of Clayton Foundation's revenue?
Given the NTEE code T11 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) and the fluctuating but often high revenue figures (e.g., $51,949,563 in 2018, $8,021,255 in 2021), the primary source of revenue is likely investment income and contributions, typical for a private foundation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Clayton Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Clayton Foundation's revenue has grown by 705.6%, moving from $837K to $6.7M. Total assets increased by 630.9% over the same period, from $22.3M to $162.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 55.1%, from $85K to $132K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Clayton Foundation reported a surplus of $6.6M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $6.7M | $132K | $162.7M | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $3.3M | $251K | $131.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $8.0M | $245K | $160.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $5.1M | $179K | $133.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $9.3M | $175K | $113.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $51.9M | $127K | $91.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2.0M | $91K | $47.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.4M | $85K | $38.8M | $25K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.0M | $83K | $35.3M | $120K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.7M | $80K | $35.6M | $215K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $933K | $72K | $32.4M | $310K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $622K | $237K | $25.6M | $495K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $837K | $85K | $22.3M | $500K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $6.7M, expenses of $132K, and assets of $162.7M (revenue +102.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $251K, and assets of $131.1M (revenue -58.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $8.0M, expenses of $245K, and assets of $160.4M (revenue +56.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.1M, expenses of $179K, and assets of $133.0M (revenue -44.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $9.3M, expenses of $175K, and assets of $113.7M (revenue -82.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $51.9M, expenses of $127K, and assets of $91.7M (revenue +2532.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $91K, and assets of $47.4M (revenue +38.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $85K, and assets of $38.8M (revenue +40.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $83K, and assets of $35.3M (revenue -39.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $80K, and assets of $35.6M (revenue +79.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $933K, expenses of $72K, and assets of $32.4M (revenue +49.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $622K, expenses of $237K, and assets of $25.6M (revenue -25.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $837K, expenses of $85K, and assets of $22.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Clayton Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Clayton 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.