Commonwealth Fund
Commonwealth Fund maintains strong asset base and consistent program spending despite fluctuating revenues, with 0% reported officer compensation.
EIN: 131635260 · New York, NY · NTEE: T21 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $6.4M |
| Total Expenses | $48.9M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $842.0M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Commonwealth Fund Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Commonwealth Fund directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Commonwealth Fund
Commonwealth Fund (EIN: 131635260) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T21. The organization reported total revenue of $6.4M and total assets of $922.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Commonwealth Fund's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Commonwealth Fund is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 87 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -1.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $40.7M |
| Total Expenses | $48.9M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-8,137,235 |
| Total Assets | $875.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $33.6M |
| Net Assets | $842.0M |
| Operating Margin | -20.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 215.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2024, Commonwealth Fund reported a deficit of $8.1M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 215.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2012–2024), Commonwealth Fund's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +82.6% | -6.8% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | -66.4% | +3.9% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | -4.4% | +9.1% | -12.1% |
| 2021 | +650.7% | +4.4% | +32.2% |
| 2020 | -72.7% | +16.8% | +7.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1939 |
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 Commonwealth Fund with a Mission Score of 90 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: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Commonwealth Fund allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $8.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Commonwealth Fund consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no portion of its expenses is allocated to executive salaries. This is highly unusual for an organization of its size and asset base, suggesting either a unique operational model where executives are compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, or a strong commitment to directing all funds to programmatic work and operational 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 Commonwealth Fund's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility, indicating reliance on unpredictable investment returns or large, infrequent grants.
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue, as seen in 202406 ($48.8M expenses vs $40.7M revenue) and 202306 ($52.3M expenses vs $22.2M revenue), which, while sustainable with a large endowment, could be a concern for organizations without such a buffer.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Commonwealth Fund:
- Exceptional transparency with 0% reported officer compensation across all filings.
- Strong and growing asset base, providing long-term financial stability (e.g., $922,680,894 in latest data).
- Consistent expense levels, suggesting disciplined financial management despite revenue fluctuations.
- Likely high program spending ratio, indicating efficient use of funds towards its mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Commonwealth Fund
Is Commonwealth Fund a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Commonwealth Fund (EIN: 131635260) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Commonwealth Fund spend its money?
Commonwealth Fund directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Commonwealth Fund tax-deductible?
Commonwealth Fund is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131635260). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Commonwealth Fund's spending goes to programs?
Commonwealth Fund directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Commonwealth Fund compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Commonwealth Fund is above average for NTEE category T21 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Commonwealth Fund located?
Commonwealth Fund is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131635260. It is classified under NTEE code T21.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Commonwealth Fund have?
Commonwealth Fund 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 $6.4M in total revenue.
How does Commonwealth Fund manage to report 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It suggests that executive compensation, if any, is either covered by an external entity, paid through a different mechanism not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that the organization truly operates without paid officers in the traditional sense, relying on volunteer leadership or staff compensated under other expense categories.
What is the primary source of Commonwealth Fund's revenue given its fluctuations?
Given the significant fluctuations in revenue, ranging from $9.2 million to $96.7 million, it is likely that a substantial portion of the Commonwealth Fund's revenue comes from investment returns on its large endowment, rather than solely from annual donations or grants. This is typical for large foundations with substantial asset bases.
Is the Commonwealth Fund financially sustainable given its expense levels?
Yes, the Commonwealth Fund appears financially sustainable. Despite periods where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 202406, 202306, 202006), its substantial asset base, consistently over $600 million and reaching $998 million in 2021, provides a robust endowment to cover operational costs and ensure long-term viability. The organization can draw from its assets during lower revenue periods.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Commonwealth Fund showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2024), Commonwealth Fund's revenue has declined by 18.9%, moving from $50.2M to $40.7M. Total assets increased by 35.9% over the same period, from $644.5M to $875.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 36.2%, from $35.9M to $48.9M. In its most recent filing year (2024), Commonwealth Fund reported a deficit of $8.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $33.6M in liabilities against $875.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.8%), resulting in net assets of $842.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40.7M | $48.9M | $875.6M | $33.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $22.3M | $52.4M | $864.8M | $33.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $66.4M | $50.4M | $877.0M | $36.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $69.4M | $46.2M | $998.0M | $34.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $9.3M | $44.3M | $754.9M | $30.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $33.9M | $37.9M | $702.6M | $28.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $45.1M | $38.3M | $769.1M | $30.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $32.6M | $38.3M | $762.5M | $28.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $96.7M | $38.2M | $702.2M | $29.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $50.2M | $35.9M | $644.5M | $28.1M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $40.7M, expenses of $48.9M, and assets of $875.6M (revenue +82.6% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $22.3M, expenses of $52.4M, and assets of $864.8M (revenue -66.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $66.4M, expenses of $50.4M, and assets of $877.0M (revenue -4.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $69.4M, expenses of $46.2M, and assets of $998.0M (revenue +650.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $9.3M, expenses of $44.3M, and assets of $754.9M (revenue -72.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $33.9M, expenses of $37.9M, and assets of $702.6M (revenue -25.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $45.1M, expenses of $38.3M, and assets of $769.1M (revenue +38.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $32.6M, expenses of $38.3M, and assets of $762.5M (revenue -66.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $96.7M, expenses of $38.2M, and assets of $702.2M (revenue +92.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $50.2M, expenses of $35.9M, and assets of $644.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Commonwealth Fund:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Commonwealth Fund 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.