Columbia Bank Foundation
Columbia Bank Foundation consistently disburses millions from its substantial endowment, with expenses significantly exceeding minimal annual revenue.
EIN: 201115566 · Fair Lawn, NJ · NTEE: T21 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Columbia Bank Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Columbia Bank Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Columbia Bank Foundation
Columbia Bank Foundation (EIN: 201115566) is a nonprofit organization based in Fair Lawn, NJ, classified under NTEE code T21. The organization reported total revenue of $368K and total assets of $44.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Columbia Bank 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 Columbia Bank Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 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, Columbia Bank 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 reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the foundation's officers do not receive salaries, which is a positive sign for minimizing administrative overhead.
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 Columbia Bank Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Annual expenses consistently exceed annual revenue by a significant margin, indicating reliance on asset depletion or endowment returns rather than new income generation (though this is typical for an endowment-based foundation).
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Columbia Bank Foundation:
- Substantial asset base ($44,831,760 latest, $53,992,779 in 2023) provides long-term financial stability for grant-making.
- Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating very low executive overhead.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history demonstrates good transparency and compliance.
- High program spending ratio (estimated 90%) due to its nature as a disbursing foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia Bank Foundation
Is Columbia Bank Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Columbia Bank Foundation (EIN: 201115566) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Columbia Bank Foundation spend its money?
Columbia Bank Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Columbia Bank Foundation tax-deductible?
Columbia Bank Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201115566). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the Columbia Bank Foundation sustain its grant-making activities with such low annual revenue?
The foundation sustains its activities by drawing from its substantial asset base, which was over $53 million in 2023. It functions as a disbursing foundation, utilizing its endowment rather than relying on annual fundraising.
What is the primary source of the foundation's assets?
While not explicitly detailed in the provided data, the significant and stable asset base, coupled with minimal annual revenue, suggests the assets primarily originate from initial endowments or large contributions, likely from Columbia Bank itself.
Is the foundation's spending efficient given its financial structure?
Yes, the foundation appears efficient in its spending. With 0% officer compensation and expenses primarily directed towards its mission (grants), the operational overhead seems minimal, allowing a high percentage of funds to go towards programs.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Columbia Bank Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Columbia Bank Foundation's revenue has declined by 75.8%, moving from $274K to $66K. Total assets increased by 177519.5% over the same period, from $30K to $54.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 922.3%, from $248K to $2.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Columbia Bank Foundation reported a deficit of $2.5M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $616K in liabilities against $54.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.1%), resulting in net assets of $53.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $66K | $2.5M | $54.0M | $616K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $1 | $2.9M | $61.2M | $774K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $11.7M | $3.1M | $62.1M | $239K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $241K | $2.4M | $50.1M | $270K | — | — |
| 2019 | $1.2M | $2.7M | $57.7M | $746K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $300K | $286K | $44K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $295K | $391K | $30K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $293K | $180K | $130K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $250K | $276K | $4K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $274K | $248K | $30K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $66K, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $54.0M (revenue +6625300.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $61.2M (revenue -100.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $11.7M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $62.1M (revenue +4759.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $241K, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $50.1M (revenue -79.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $57.7M (revenue +288.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $300K, expenses of $286K, and assets of $44K (revenue +1.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $295K, expenses of $391K, and assets of $30K (revenue +0.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $293K, expenses of $180K, and assets of $130K (revenue +17.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $250K, expenses of $276K, and assets of $4K (revenue -8.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $274K, expenses of $248K, and assets of $30K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Columbia Bank 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.