Ellis L Phillips Foundation
Ellis L Phillips Foundation consistently spends more than its annual revenue, drawing from its stable $4M-$5M asset base.
EIN: 135677691 · Waltham, MA · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.0M |
| Total Expenses | $436K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $4.3M |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Ellis L Phillips Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Ellis L Phillips Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Ellis L Phillips Foundation
Ellis L Phillips Foundation (EIN: 135677691) is a nonprofit organization based in Waltham, MA. The organization reported total revenue of $2.0M and total assets of $4.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Ellis L Phillips Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Ellis L Phillips Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 79 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 13.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $315K |
| Total Expenses | $436K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-120,321 |
| Total Assets | $4.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $3K |
| Net Assets | $4.3M |
| Operating Margin | -38.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 118.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2024, Ellis L Phillips Foundation reported a deficit of $120K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 118.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2012–2024), Ellis L Phillips Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +53.1% | +37.9% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | -40.2% | -24.1% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | -14.0% | +28.5% | -20.5% |
| 2021 | +68.5% | -54.1% | +19.7% |
| 2020 | +3.1% | +187.5% | +3.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1947 |
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 Ellis L Phillips 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Ellis L Phillips Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% 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 $120K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers either serve without compensation or their compensation is not reported in a way that is visible in this summary data, which is a positive sign for resource allocation.
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 Ellis L Phillips Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending (expenses exceeding revenue) could be a concern if not managed by endowment drawdowns, though common for private foundations.
- Lack of detailed program spending breakdown in provided data makes it difficult to fully assess program efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Ellis L Phillips Foundation:
- Stable asset base, consistently around $4-5 million over a decade.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds for mission.
- Low liabilities, demonstrating strong financial management and minimal debt.
- Consistent distribution of funds, often exceeding annual revenue, suggesting active grantmaking.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ellis L Phillips Foundation
Is Ellis L Phillips Foundation a legitimate charity?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation (EIN: 135677691) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Massachusetts. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.0M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Ellis L Phillips Foundation spend its money?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Ellis L Phillips Foundation tax-deductible?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 135677691). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Ellis L Phillips Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Ellis L Phillips Foundation located?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts and files with the IRS under EIN 135677691.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Ellis L Phillips Foundation have?
Ellis L Phillips 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 $2.0M in total revenue.
Is the Ellis L Phillips Foundation a good charity?
As a private foundation, its 'goodness' is measured by its grantmaking impact. The consistent spending, often exceeding revenue, suggests active distribution of funds. Without knowing its specific program areas and outcomes, a full assessment is challenging, but its financial stability and lack of officer compensation are positive indicators.
Why does the foundation consistently spend more than it earns?
This is common for private foundations that operate by distributing a portion of their endowment's principal or accumulated gains, rather than solely relying on annual investment income. This allows them to maintain a consistent level of grantmaking even in years of lower investment returns.
What is the trend in the foundation's assets?
The foundation's assets have remained relatively stable over the past decade, fluctuating between approximately $3.9 million and $5.1 million, with the latest reported assets at $4,642,674. This indicates a well-managed endowment despite consistent deficit spending.
Are there any concerns about the foundation's liabilities?
Liabilities have generally been very low, often in the thousands of dollars, which is a positive sign of financial health. The highest reported liability was $111,328 in 202006, which is still a small fraction of its total assets, indicating no significant debt burden.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Ellis L Phillips Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2024), Ellis L Phillips Foundation's revenue has grown by 365%, moving from $68K to $315K. Total assets increased by 10.4% over the same period, from $3.9M to $4.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 157.5%, from $169K to $436K. In its most recent filing year (2024), Ellis L Phillips Foundation reported a deficit of $120K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $3K in liabilities against $4.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.1%), resulting in net assets of $4.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $315K | $436K | $4.3M | $3K | — | — |
| 2023 | $206K | $316K | $4.2M | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $345K | $416K | $4.0M | $32K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $401K | $324K | $5.1M | $60K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $238K | $705K | $4.2M | $111K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $230K | $245K | $4.1M | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $223K | $266K | $4.3M | $23K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $167K | $208K | $4.4M | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $66K | $230K | $4.0M | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $68K | $169K | $3.9M | $2K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $315K, expenses of $436K, and assets of $4.3M (revenue +53.1% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $206K, expenses of $316K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue -40.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $345K, expenses of $416K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue -14.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $401K, expenses of $324K, and assets of $5.1M (revenue +68.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $238K, expenses of $705K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue +3.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $230K, expenses of $245K, and assets of $4.1M (revenue +3.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $223K, expenses of $266K, and assets of $4.3M (revenue +33.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $167K, expenses of $208K, and assets of $4.4M (revenue +153.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $66K, expenses of $230K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue -2.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $68K, expenses of $169K, and assets of $3.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Ellis L Phillips Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Ellis L Phillips 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.