Clif Bar Family Foundation
Clif Bar Family Foundation maintains substantial assets and zero executive compensation amidst fluctuating revenues.
EIN: 204345935 · Saint Helena, CA · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Clif Bar Family Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Clif Bar Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Clif Bar Family Foundation
Clif Bar Family Foundation (EIN: 204345935) is a nonprofit organization based in Saint Helena, CA, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $31.9M and total assets of $570.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Clif Bar Family Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Clif Bar Family 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: 10%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Clif Bar Family Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officer salaries are paid, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size with assets exceeding $570 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 Clif Bar Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant revenue volatility, particularly the unexplained spike in 2022, warrants further investigation into its source and sustainability.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Clif Bar Family Foundation:
- Extremely strong asset base ($570,812,519 in latest period) providing long-term stability.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency and dedication to mission.
- Very low liabilities (consistently $1), demonstrating excellent financial management and minimal debt.
- Healthy surplus in recent years (e.g., $29,947,536 revenue vs. $15,054,363 expenses in 2023).
- Long history of consistent IRS 990 filings, indicating transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clif Bar Family Foundation
Is Clif Bar Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Clif Bar Family Foundation (EIN: 204345935) some concerns. Mission Score: 95/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Clif Bar Family Foundation spend its money?
Clif Bar Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Clif Bar Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Clif Bar Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204345935). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is the Clif Bar Family Foundation a good charity?
Based on the available data, the Clif Bar Family Foundation appears to be a very good charity. It boasts substantial assets ($570,812,519), consistently reports zero officer compensation, and maintains extremely low liabilities ($1), all of which are strong indicators of financial health and a commitment to its mission.
How does the foundation manage its significant assets?
While the filings show substantial assets, the specific investment strategies or detailed management of these assets are not explicitly detailed in the provided summary. However, the consistent growth in assets suggests effective financial stewardship.
What caused the massive revenue spike in 2022?
The revenue spike to $556,164,967 in 2022 is a significant outlier compared to other years. This could be due to a large one-time donation, a major asset sale, or a unique investment gain. Further investigation into the 2022 filing's Schedule A and other relevant parts would be needed to understand the source.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Clif Bar Family Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Clif Bar Family Foundation's revenue has grown by 1283.4%, moving from $2.2M to $29.9M. Total assets increased by 538657.7% over the same period, from $105K to $563.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 549.8%, from $2.3M to $15.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Clif Bar Family Foundation reported a surplus of $14.9M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $563.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $563.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $29.9M | $15.1M | $563.7M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $556.2M | $5.4M | $551.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.1M | $3.8M | $510K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.0M | $4.0M | $776K | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $5.0M | $4.2M | $2.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.8M | $3.9M | $425K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $4.3M | $4.0M | $471K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.5M | $3.9M | $219K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.3M | $2.8M | $608K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $2.2M | $2.3M | $105K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $29.9M, expenses of $15.1M, and assets of $563.7M (revenue -94.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $556.2M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $551.4M (revenue +13368.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $510K (revenue +111.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $776K (revenue -60.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +30.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $425K (revenue -11.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $471K (revenue +21.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $219K (revenue +7.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $608K (revenue +51.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $105K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Clif Bar Family 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.