Diana Davis Spencer Foundation
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation maintains over $1.3 billion in assets while consistently reporting 0% officer compensation.
EIN: 203672969 · Bethesda, MD · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $356.6M |
| Total Expenses | $64.8M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $1.3 |
| Net Assets | $1.2B |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Diana Davis Spencer Foundation
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation (EIN: 203672969) is a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, MD, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $356.6M and total assets of $1.3B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Diana Davis Spencer Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 32.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $47.9M |
| Total Expenses | $64.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-16,851,915 |
| Total Assets | $1.3B |
| Total Liabilities | $98.4M |
| Net Assets | $1.2B |
| Operating Margin | -35.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 7.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 249.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation reported a deficit of $16.9M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 249.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 7.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Diana Davis Spencer Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -24.4% | -54.4% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | +101.6% | +117.8% | -10.2% |
| 2021 | -27.4% | -47.6% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | +33.1% | +187.3% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | -67.5% | -37.6% | +-0.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
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 Diana Davis Spencer Foundation 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: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% 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 $16.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 7.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers do not receive compensation from the foundation, which is highly favorable for a foundation of its size with over $1.3 billion in assets.
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 Diana Davis Spencer Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Frequent reporting of expenses exceeding revenue, which while common for foundations, warrants deeper investigation into funding sources if not solely from endowment drawdowns.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Diana Davis Spencer Foundation:
- Consistently reported 0% officer compensation, indicating strong financial stewardship regarding executive pay.
- Maintains a very strong asset base, consistently over $1.3 billion, providing significant capacity for future grantmaking.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), demonstrating consistent transparency.
- Significant asset growth over the past decade, from $568 million in 2011 to over $1.3 billion currently.
Frequently Asked Questions about Diana Davis Spencer Foundation
Is Diana Davis Spencer Foundation a legitimate charity?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation (EIN: 203672969) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Maryland. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $356.6M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Diana Davis Spencer Foundation spend its money?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 3%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Diana Davis Spencer Foundation tax-deductible?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203672969). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation CEO make?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $1.3 annually. The organization reported $356.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Diana Davis Spencer Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Diana Davis Spencer Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Diana Davis Spencer Foundation located?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and files with the IRS under EIN 203672969. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Diana Davis Spencer Foundation have?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation 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 $356.6M in total revenue.
How does the foundation manage to have expenses exceeding revenue in multiple years?
As a private foundation, it likely funds its operations and grantmaking from its substantial endowment (assets) and investment returns, which may not always be categorized as 'revenue' in the provided summary, or it is intentionally spending down its principal.
What is the primary focus of the grants made by the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation?
Given its NTEE code T22 (Private Grantmaking Foundations), its primary program service is making grants. To understand the specific focus, one would need to review the Schedule I (Grants and Other Assistance to Organizations, Governments, and Individuals in the U.S.) of its Form 990 filings.
Is the foundation's asset growth consistent?
The foundation's assets have shown significant growth from $568 million in 2011 to over $1.3 billion in recent years, peaking at $1.51 billion in 2021, indicating strong financial management and investment performance over the long term, despite some year-to-year fluctuations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Diana Davis Spencer Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Diana Davis Spencer Foundation's revenue has grown by 2775.7%, moving from $1.7M to $47.9M. Total assets increased by 137.1% over the same period, from $568.2M to $1.3B. Total functional expenses rose by 2704.6%, from $2.3M to $64.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Diana Davis Spencer Foundation reported a deficit of $16.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $98.4M in liabilities against $1.3B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 7.3%), resulting in net assets of $1.2B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $47.9M | $64.8M | $1.3B | $98.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $63.4M | $142.0M | $1.4B | $116.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $31.4M | $65.2M | $1.5B | $70.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $43.3M | $124.3M | $1.5B | $70.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $32.5M | $43.3M | $1.4B | $38.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $100.1M | $69.4M | $1.4B | $31.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $156.5M | $25.9M | $1.5B | $19.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.3M | $3.4M | $1.1B | $429K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.4M | $2.4M | $649.5M | $296K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.7M | $2.3M | $568.2M | $181K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $47.9M, expenses of $64.8M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue -24.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $63.4M, expenses of $142.0M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue +101.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $31.4M, expenses of $65.2M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue -27.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $43.3M, expenses of $124.3M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +33.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $32.5M, expenses of $43.3M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue -67.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $100.1M, expenses of $69.4M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue -36.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $156.5M, expenses of $25.9M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +11903.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $3.4M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -6.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $649.5M (revenue -16.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $568.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Diana Davis Spencer Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Diana Davis Spencer 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.