Council On Foundations Inc
Council On Foundations Inc maintains stable finances with consistent positive net income and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 136068327 · Washington, DC · NTEE: T500 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Council On Foundations Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Council On Foundations Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Council On Foundations Inc
Council On Foundations Inc (EIN: 136068327) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code T500. The organization reported total revenue of $18.5M and total assets of $38.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Council On Foundations Inc'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 Council On Foundations Inc 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Council On Foundations Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization with annual revenues exceeding $10 million and assets nearing $40 million. This suggests that executive compensation may be reported under different categories or is not disclosed in the 'officer compensation' section, warranting further scrutiny for complete transparency.
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 Council On Foundations Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Unexplained 0% officer compensation across all filings for an organization of this size
- Significant, unsustained revenue spike in 2018 without clear explanation in provided data
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Council On Foundations Inc:
- Consistent positive net income in recent years (e.g., $943,759 in 2023)
- Strong asset base relative to liabilities (e.g., $39,923,596 assets vs. $6,934,867 liabilities in 2023)
- Stable revenue generation over the past few years (excluding 2018 anomaly)
Frequently Asked Questions about Council On Foundations Inc
Is Council On Foundations Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Council On Foundations Inc (EIN: 136068327) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Council On Foundations Inc spend its money?
Council On Foundations Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Council On Foundations Inc tax-deductible?
Council On Foundations Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136068327). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Council On Foundations Inc a good charity?
Based on the available data, the Council On Foundations Inc appears to be a financially stable organization with consistent positive net income in recent years. Their asset-to-liability ratio is strong, and the lack of reported officer compensation is a unique characteristic that could be viewed positively for resource allocation, though it warrants further investigation for clarity on executive pay practices.
Why was there a significant revenue spike in 2018?
In 2018, the organization reported revenue of $36,684,618, a substantial increase from $13,403,550 in 2017 and $12,832,182 in 2019. This spike suggests a potential one-time large grant, major fundraising event, or significant asset sale that year, which was not sustained in subsequent periods.
How does the organization manage its executive compensation?
The filings consistently show 0% officer compensation. This is highly unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation might be reported under other expense categories (e.g., salaries and wages for key employees not classified as officers) or that the organization has a unique compensation structure. Further detail beyond the provided summary would be needed to fully understand their executive compensation practices.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Council On Foundations Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Council On Foundations Inc's revenue has declined by 25.8%, moving from $17.8M to $13.2M. Total assets increased by 111.5% over the same period, from $18.9M to $39.9M. Total functional expenses fell by 42.6%, from $21.4M to $12.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Council On Foundations Inc reported a surplus of $944K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $6.9M in liabilities against $39.9M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 17.4%), resulting in net assets of $33.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $13.2M | $12.3M | $39.9M | $6.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $11.5M | $10.7M | $37.6M | $7.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $12.0M | $9.6M | $28.5M | $3.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $12.2M | $9.4M | $27.5M | $4.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $12.8M | $10.7M | $33.3M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $36.7M | $11.3M | $34.8M | $3.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $13.4M | $13.6M | $11.5M | $5.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $11.6M | $14.3M | $11.6M | $5.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $15.2M | $14.2M | $14.3M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $14.2M | $15.6M | $14.9M | $6.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $14.3M | $16.7M | $16.6M | $4.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $17.3M | $17.8M | $19.2M | $5.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $17.8M | $21.4M | $18.9M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $13.2M, expenses of $12.3M, and assets of $39.9M (revenue +14.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $11.5M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $37.6M (revenue -4.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $12.0M, expenses of $9.6M, and assets of $28.5M (revenue -1.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $12.2M, expenses of $9.4M, and assets of $27.5M (revenue -4.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $12.8M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $33.3M (revenue -65.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $36.7M, expenses of $11.3M, and assets of $34.8M (revenue +173.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $13.4M, expenses of $13.6M, and assets of $11.5M (revenue +15.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $11.6M, expenses of $14.3M, and assets of $11.6M (revenue -23.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $15.2M, expenses of $14.2M, and assets of $14.3M (revenue +7.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $14.2M, expenses of $15.6M, and assets of $14.9M (revenue -0.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $14.3M, expenses of $16.7M, and assets of $16.6M (revenue -17.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $17.3M, expenses of $17.8M, and assets of $19.2M (revenue -2.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $17.8M, expenses of $21.4M, and assets of $18.9M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Council On Foundations Inc 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.