Elster Foundation
Elster Foundation consistently spends more than it earns, drawing down its asset base.
EIN: 166054742 · Martinsville, VA · Updated: 2026-03-28
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70% program spend, health grade B
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| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.0M |
| Total Expenses | $382K |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $4.0M |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
Elster Foundation Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
Elster Foundation is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Elster Foundation in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
10 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $238K and expenses of $382K.
Revenue and Expenses
Elster Foundation reported $238K in revenue and $382K in expenses, a deficit of $144K.
Executive Compensation
Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.
Charity Score and Red Flags
65/100 mission score, 3 red flags, and 3 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is Elster Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $268K (70%) |
Across stored filings, Elster Foundation shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
Decision Cockpit
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| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 3 red flags identified |
| Mission spend | 70% to programs | Good |
| Financial durability | Grade B | 10 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Association Of Small Business Development Centers | Virginia and category context |
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Martinsville, VA nonprofitsFollow the Money
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Elster Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Elster Foundation
Elster Foundation (EIN: 166054742) is a nonprofit organization based in Martinsville, VA. The organization reported total revenue of $1.0M and total assets of $4.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Elster Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Elster Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 61 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $238K |
| Total Expenses | $382K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-144,085 |
| Total Assets | $4.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $4.0M |
| Operating Margin | -60.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 125.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Elster Foundation reported a deficit of $144K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 125.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Elster Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +25.6% | -5.6% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | +7.4% | +19.0% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | -68.6% | +57.3% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | +545.6% | -1.8% | +8.2% |
| 2019 | -70.3% | -44.6% | -14.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1965 |
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 Elster Foundation with a Mission Score of 65 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: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Elster Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $144K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% in all available filings, indicating that no officer salaries are paid, which is highly unusual for an organization of this asset size and suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure.
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 Elster Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operating deficits: Expenses have exceeded revenue in most recent years (e.g., 2021-2023), leading to asset depletion.
- Declining asset base: Assets have decreased from $5,870,229 in 2013 to $4,004,970 in 2023, indicating unsustainable spending relative to income.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in provided data, making it difficult to assess program efficiency accurately.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Elster Foundation:
- Strong asset base: Despite declines, the foundation still holds nearly $4 million in assets, providing a significant financial buffer.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history: 10 filings demonstrate a commitment to transparency.
- No reported officer compensation: Suggests a lean executive structure or volunteer leadership, potentially reducing administrative overhead.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elster Foundation
Is Elster Foundation a legitimate charity?
Elster Foundation (EIN: 166054742) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Virginia. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.0M. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Elster Foundation spend its money?
Elster Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Elster Foundation tax-deductible?
Elster Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 166054742). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Elster Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Elster Foundation directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Elster Foundation located?
Elster Foundation is headquartered in Martinsville, Virginia and files with the IRS under EIN 166054742.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Elster Foundation have?
Elster 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 $1.0M in total revenue.
How does Elster Foundation cover its consistent operating deficits?
The foundation appears to cover its operating deficits by drawing down its assets. For instance, in 2023, expenses ($382,292) exceeded revenue ($238,207) by $144,085, and total assets decreased from $4,149,063 in 2022 to $4,004,970 in 2023.
What is the long-term sustainability outlook for Elster Foundation given its financial trends?
The long-term sustainability is a concern if the trend of expenses consistently exceeding revenue continues. While the foundation has substantial assets ($3,998,278), a continuous draw-down will eventually deplete its endowment, impacting its ability to fund future activities.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0%?
A consistent 0% officer compensation suggests that the foundation's officers are either unpaid volunteers or that their compensation is reported under other expense categories, which would require further investigation of the detailed 990 forms to confirm.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Elster Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Elster Foundation's revenue has grown by 120.2%, moving from $108K to $238K. Total assets decreased by 24.4% over the same period, from $5.3M to $4.0M. Total functional expenses fell by 1.1%, from $386K to $382K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Elster Foundation reported a deficit of $144K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $4.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $4.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $238K | $382K | $4.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $190K | $405K | $4.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $177K | $341K | $4.4M | $1 | — | — |
| 2020 | $563K | $216K | $4.5M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $87K | $220K | $4.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $294K | $398K | $4.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $534K | $428K | $5.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $375K | $396K | $5.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $191K | $385K | $5.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $108K | $386K | $5.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $238K, expenses of $382K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +25.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $190K, expenses of $405K, and assets of $4.1M (revenue +7.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $177K, expenses of $341K, and assets of $4.4M (revenue -68.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $563K, expenses of $216K, and assets of $4.5M (revenue +545.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $87K, expenses of $220K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue -70.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $294K, expenses of $398K, and assets of $4.9M (revenue -45.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $534K, expenses of $428K, and assets of $5.6M (revenue +42.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $375K, expenses of $396K, and assets of $5.9M (revenue +96.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $191K, expenses of $385K, and assets of $5.4M (revenue +76.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $108K, expenses of $386K, and assets of $5.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Elster Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Elster 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.