Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation
Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation shows strong asset growth and no reported executive compensation, focusing on grantmaking.
EIN: 207464063 · San Francisco, CA · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation
Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation (EIN: 207464063) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, CA, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $151.5M and total assets of $81.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023).
Financial Trends
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -101.7% | -48.6% | -14.2% |
| 2022 | +77.8% | +18.0% | +87.5% |
| 2019 | -3092.1% | -15.4% | +351.6% |
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 Doris & Donald Fisher 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% 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:
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly unusual and suggests a volunteer-led or externally managed structure, or that compensation is covered by other entities.
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 Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Negative revenue reported in multiple periods (e.g., -$1,065,576 in 2023, -$507,317 in 2020), which, while common for foundations, warrants understanding of investment strategy.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating extremely low administrative overhead.
- Significant asset growth from $1.6 million in 2011 to $81 million currently, demonstrating strong financial management.
- Substantial increase in expenses (grantmaking) from $29,374 in 2011 to $12,163,671 in 2023, showing growing programmatic impact.
- Robust financial health with substantial assets to support future grantmaking activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation
Is Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation (EIN: 207464063) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation spend its money?
Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation tax-deductible?
Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 207464063). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the foundation manage its administrative costs without officer compensation?
The consistent 0% officer compensation suggests that administrative functions might be performed by volunteers, by staff whose compensation is categorized differently (e.g., as program staff if they also manage grants), or potentially by an affiliated entity that covers these costs. This structure contributes to very low reported administrative overhead.
What caused the negative revenue reported in some years?
Negative revenue, such as -$1,065,576 in 2023 and -$507,317 in 2020, is typically due to investment losses within the foundation's endowment. As a grantmaking foundation, its primary 'revenue' often comes from investment returns, and market downturns can lead to negative figures.
Is the foundation's asset growth sustainable?
The foundation's assets have grown substantially from $1.6 million in 2011 to over $81 million currently. While there are fluctuations, the overall trend is strong growth, suggesting effective investment management and potentially additional contributions, which bodes well for its long-term sustainability and grantmaking capacity.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation's revenue has declined by 41067.9%, moving from $3K to $-1,065,576. Total assets increased by 4371.8% over the same period, from $1.6M to $73.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 41309.7%, from $29K to $12.2M. The organization holds $1.1M in liabilities against $73.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.6%), resulting in net assets of $72.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $-1,065,576 | $12.2M | $73.6M | $1.1M | — | — |
| 2022 | $63.7M | $23.7M | $85.8M | $88K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $35.8M | $20.1M | $45.8M | $58K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $-507,317 | $10.1M | $30.0M | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $-1,499,143 | $3.9M | $40.7M | $98K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $50K | $4.6M | $9.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $274K | $2.0M | $13.6M | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $11.1M | $307K | $15.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1K | $100K | $1.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3K | $29K | $1.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $-1,065,576, expenses of $12.2M, and assets of $73.6M (revenue -101.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $63.7M, expenses of $23.7M, and assets of $85.8M (revenue +77.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $35.8M, expenses of $20.1M, and assets of $45.8M.
- 2020: Revenue of $-507,317, expenses of $10.1M, and assets of $30.0M.
- 2019: Revenue of $-1,499,143, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $40.7M (revenue -3092.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $50K, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $9.0M (revenue -81.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $274K, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $13.6M (revenue -97.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $11.1M, expenses of $307K, and assets of $15.8M (revenue +1043266.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1K, expenses of $100K, and assets of $1.5M (revenue -59.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3K, expenses of $29K, and assets of $1.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Doris & Donald Fisher 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.