Commonspace
Commonspace shows consistent revenue and asset growth but faces recent deficits and rising liabilities.
EIN: 10500860 · Portland, ME · NTEE: E99Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.6M |
| Total Expenses | $2.9M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $13K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Commonspace Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Commonspace directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Commonspace
Commonspace (EIN: 10500860) is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME, classified under NTEE code E99Z. The organization reported total revenue of $3.6M and total assets of $1.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Commonspace's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Commonspace is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 30 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.7M |
| Total Expenses | $2.9M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-165,241 |
| Total Assets | $1.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.3M |
| Net Assets | $13K |
| Operating Margin | -6.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 99.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 5.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Commonspace reported a deficit of $165K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 5.6 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 99.0% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Commonspace's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +9.9% | +11.6% | +167.9% |
| 2022 | +1.0% | +11.6% | -13.6% |
| 2021 | +28.4% | +25.5% | +26.5% |
| 2020 | +22.8% | +9.2% | +98.0% |
| 2019 | +15.2% | +30.9% | -19.1% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1996 |
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 Commonspace 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: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Commonspace allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% 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 deficit of $165K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 99.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Commonspace consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its highest-ranking executives are not compensated in a manner typically reported as officer compensation, which is a strong positive for transparency and resource allocation.
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 Commonspace's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses exceeded revenue in recent periods (e.g., 2023 and 2022), indicating potential operational deficits.
- Significant increase in liabilities from $71,278 in 2015 to $1,325,007 in 2023, requiring further scrutiny.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data makes precise efficiency assessment difficult.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Commonspace:
- Consistent revenue growth over the past decade, from $1,163,183 in 2014 to $2,696,064 in 2023.
- Substantial asset growth, from $157,497 in 2014 to $1,338,073 in 2023, indicating increasing capacity.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, demonstrating strong financial transparency and potentially high resource allocation to mission.
- Positive net assets (Assets exceeding Liabilities) in most years, indicating solvency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Commonspace
Is Commonspace a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Commonspace (EIN: 10500860) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Commonspace spend its money?
Commonspace directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Commonspace tax-deductible?
Commonspace is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10500860). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Commonspace's spending goes to programs?
Commonspace directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Commonspace compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Commonspace is above average for NTEE category E99Z nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Commonspace located?
Commonspace is headquartered in Portland, Maine and files with the IRS under EIN 10500860. It is classified under NTEE code E99Z.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Commonspace have?
Commonspace 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 $3.6M in total revenue.
Is Commonspace financially stable given recent deficits?
While Commonspace has experienced deficits in recent years (e.g., $2,861,305 expenses vs. $2,696,064 revenue in 2023), its assets have grown significantly from $157,497 in 2014 to $1,338,073 in 2023, suggesting a capacity to absorb these shortfalls. However, continued deficits could erode reserves over time.
What caused the substantial increase in liabilities?
Liabilities increased dramatically from $71,278 in 2015 to $1,325,007 in 2023. Without further detail from the 990 forms, it's unclear if this is due to strategic investments, debt financing for growth, or other obligations. This warrants further investigation to understand the nature and implications of these liabilities.
How does Commonspace manage without officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that either the organization's leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or their compensation is structured in a way that is not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the IRS Form 990. This is a highly unusual and positive indicator for donor confidence, implying resources are directed elsewhere.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Commonspace showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Commonspace's revenue has grown by 144%, moving from $1.1M to $2.7M. Total assets increased by 441% over the same period, from $247K to $1.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 183.9%, from $1.0M to $2.9M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Commonspace reported a deficit of $165K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.3M in liabilities against $1.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 99.0%), resulting in net assets of $13K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.7M | $2.9M | $1.3M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $2.5M | $2.6M | $499K | $321K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.4M | $2.3M | $578K | $313K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.9M | $1.8M | $457K | $319K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.5M | $1.7M | $231K | $154K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.3M | $1.3M | $285K | $71K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.3M | $1.2M | $222K | $65K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $195K | $66K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.2M | $1.1M | $259K | $71K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.2M | $1.2M | $157K | $62K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $240K | $140K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.2M | $1.1M | $266K | $125K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.1M | $1.0M | $247K | $144K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +9.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $499K (revenue +1.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $578K (revenue +28.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $457K (revenue +22.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $231K (revenue +15.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $285K (revenue +6.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $222K (revenue +14.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $195K (revenue -5.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $259K (revenue -0.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $157K (revenue +3.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $240K (revenue -2.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $266K (revenue +4.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $247K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Commonspace:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Commonspace 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.