Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation maintains substantial assets despite fluctuating revenues and recurring operational deficits.
EIN: 131930701 · Bethesda, MD · NTEE: G200 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.9B |
| Total Expenses | $443.4M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $4.6B |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (EIN: 131930701) is a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, MD, classified under NTEE code G200. The organization reported total revenue of $1.9B and total assets of $5.0B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 69 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $292.0M |
| Total Expenses | $443.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-151,388,319 |
| Total Assets | $4.9B |
| Total Liabilities | $293.0M |
| Net Assets | $4.6B |
| Operating Margin | -51.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 6.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 132.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation reported a deficit of $151.4M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 132.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 6.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2011–2023), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +17.4% | +11.8% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | -40.4% | +5.6% | -16.8% |
| 2021 | -47.9% | -1.5% | +6.0% |
| 2020 | +32.2% | +9.4% | +20.0% |
| 2019 | +119.7% | +3.2% | +11.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1957 |
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 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). 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, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 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 $151.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 6.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The reported 0% for officer compensation across all available filings is unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation may be reported under different categories or not fully disclosed in this specific data point, requiring deeper scrutiny of the full 990 forms.
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 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Recurring operational deficits (e.g., 2023 expenses $443M vs. revenue $292M)
- Unusually reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, warranting further investigation
- Significant fluctuations in annual revenue, making financial forecasting challenging
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:
- Substantial asset base of nearly $5 billion, providing significant financial stability
- Demonstrated ability to generate very high revenues in certain periods (e.g., $800M in 2020)
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, indicating transparency in reporting
Frequently Asked Questions about Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Is Cystic Fibrosis Foundation a legitimate charity?
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (EIN: 131930701) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Maryland. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.9B. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Cystic Fibrosis Foundation spend its money?
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation tax-deductible?
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131930701). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Cystic Fibrosis Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is above average for NTEE category G200 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Cystic Fibrosis Foundation located?
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and files with the IRS under EIN 131930701. It is classified under NTEE code G200.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Cystic Fibrosis Foundation have?
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has 12 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 $1.9B in total revenue.
Is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation a good charity?
The CFF has a strong asset base of nearly $5 billion, indicating long-term financial stability. While it has experienced operational deficits in several years (e.g., 2023, 2022), its overall financial health appears robust due to past significant revenues and asset growth. The consistent 0% officer compensation reported is a point of inquiry, but the organization's substantial resources suggest a strong capacity to pursue its mission.
Why do expenses often exceed revenue for CFF?
The CFF's expenses have exceeded revenue in multiple years (e.g., 2023: $443M expenses vs. $292M revenue; 2022: $396M expenses vs. $248M revenue). This could be due to strategic spending from accumulated reserves, significant investments in research or programs, or fluctuations in revenue streams. The large asset base suggests they have the capacity to cover these deficits.
What is the significance of the 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization with revenues in the hundreds of millions and assets in the billions. This either indicates that executive compensation is genuinely zero (highly improbable for a large organization) or that it is reported under a different category within the 990, or that this specific data point is incomplete. Further investigation into the full 990 forms is necessary to understand executive pay.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's revenue has grown by 113.8%, moving from $136.6M to $292.0M. Total assets increased by 2158.6% over the same period, from $216.3M to $4.9B. Total functional expenses rose by 252.7%, from $125.7M to $443.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation reported a deficit of $151.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $293.0M in liabilities against $4.9B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 6.0%), resulting in net assets of $4.6B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $292.0M | $443.4M | $4.9B | $293.0M | — | — |
| 2022 | $248.6M | $396.7M | $4.7B | $291.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $417.2M | $375.6M | $5.7B | $274.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $800.6M | $381.4M | $5.4B | $271.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $605.8M | $348.7M | $4.5B | $239.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $275.8M | $337.9M | $4.0B | $238.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $275.5M | $292.8M | $4.4B | $206.9M | — | — |
| 2016 | $192.5M | $299.7M | $3.9B | $187.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $148.5M | $193.0M | $3.8B | $124.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $297.7M | $75.0M | $692.7M | $94.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $260.8M | $79.3M | $435.1M | $84.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $136.6M | $125.7M | $216.3M | $40.9M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $292.0M, expenses of $443.4M, and assets of $4.9B (revenue +17.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $248.6M, expenses of $396.7M, and assets of $4.7B (revenue -40.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $417.2M, expenses of $375.6M, and assets of $5.7B (revenue -47.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $800.6M, expenses of $381.4M, and assets of $5.4B (revenue +32.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $605.8M, expenses of $348.7M, and assets of $4.5B (revenue +119.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $275.8M, expenses of $337.9M, and assets of $4.0B (revenue +0.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $275.5M, expenses of $292.8M, and assets of $4.4B (revenue +43.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $192.5M, expenses of $299.7M, and assets of $3.9B (revenue +29.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $148.5M, expenses of $193.0M, and assets of $3.8B (revenue -50.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $297.7M, expenses of $75.0M, and assets of $692.7M (revenue +14.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $260.8M, expenses of $79.3M, and assets of $435.1M (revenue +91.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $136.6M, expenses of $125.7M, and assets of $216.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Cystic Fibrosis 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.