Ember Foundation
Ember Foundation shows consistent financial growth and zero officer compensation over a decade.
EIN: 208674232 · Chicago, IL · NTEE: X11 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $575K |
| Total Expenses | $352K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $1.1M |
| Transparency Score | 95/100 |
Is Ember Foundation Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Ember Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Ember Foundation
Ember Foundation (EIN: 208674232) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL, classified under NTEE code X11. The organization reported total revenue of $575K and total assets of $1.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Ember Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Ember Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 18 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 4.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $511K |
| Total Expenses | $352K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$159K |
| Total Assets | $1.1M |
| Net Assets | $1.1M |
| Operating Margin | 31.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 38.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Ember Foundation reported a surplus of $159K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 38.0 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Ember Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -29.2% | -45.8% | +17.5% |
| 2022 | +35.1% | +61.7% | +8.3% |
| 2021 | +28.9% | +25.3% | +17.8% |
| 2020 | -9.9% | -18.3% | +14.4% |
| 2019 | -5.9% | +1.5% | +11.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2008 |
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 Ember Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 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, Ember 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 surplus of $159K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the organization, which is highly unusual and suggests a volunteer-led or externally funded leadership 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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Ember Foundation:
- Consistent asset growth, from $378,577 in 2014 to $1,228,721 currently.
- Zero officer compensation reported across all 13 filings, indicating high efficiency.
- Consistent operating surplus, with revenue exceeding expenses (e.g., $511,205 revenue vs. $352,218 expenses in 2023).
- No reported liabilities in recent years (since 2016), indicating strong financial stability.
- Long and consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings), demonstrating transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ember Foundation
Is Ember Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ember Foundation (EIN: 208674232) appears legitimate. Mission Score: 95/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Ember Foundation spend its money?
Ember Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Ember Foundation tax-deductible?
Ember Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208674232). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Ember Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Ember Foundation directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Ember Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 95/100 (Excellent), Ember Foundation is above average for NTEE category X11 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Ember Foundation located?
Ember Foundation is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 208674232. It is classified under NTEE code X11.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Ember Foundation have?
Ember Foundation has 13 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 $575K in total revenue.
Is Ember Foundation a good charity?
Based on its financial data, Ember Foundation appears to be a very good charity. It demonstrates strong financial health, consistent asset growth, and a remarkable commitment to efficiency with 0% officer compensation reported across all filings.
How has Ember Foundation's financial health changed over time?
Ember Foundation has shown consistent financial growth, with assets increasing from $378,577 in 2014 to $1,228,721 currently. It has consistently operated with a surplus and maintained zero liabilities in recent years, indicating robust financial health.
What is Ember Foundation's approach to executive compensation?
Ember Foundation reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, suggesting a highly volunteer-driven leadership or that executive salaries are covered by other means, which is a strong indicator of efficiency and dedication to mission.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Ember Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Ember Foundation's revenue has grown by 72%, moving from $297K to $511K. Total assets increased by 271.3% over the same period, from $301K to $1.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 31.6%, from $268K to $352K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Ember Foundation reported a surplus of $159K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $511K | $352K | $1.1M | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $722K | $649K | $951K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $534K | $402K | $878K | $0 | — | — |
| 2020 | $414K | $320K | $745K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $460K | $392K | $651K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $489K | $386K | $584K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $435K | $408K | $481K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $343K | $318K | $454K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $322K | $271K | $430K | $373 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $296K | $295K | $379K | $191 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $296K | $275K | $378K | $383 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $278K | $222K | $357K | $171 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $297K | $268K | $301K | $140 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $511K, expenses of $352K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue -29.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $722K, expenses of $649K, and assets of $951K (revenue +35.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $534K, expenses of $402K, and assets of $878K (revenue +28.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $414K, expenses of $320K, and assets of $745K (revenue -9.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $460K, expenses of $392K, and assets of $651K (revenue -5.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $489K, expenses of $386K, and assets of $584K (revenue +12.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $435K, expenses of $408K, and assets of $481K (revenue +26.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $343K, expenses of $318K, and assets of $454K (revenue +6.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $322K, expenses of $271K, and assets of $430K (revenue +8.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $296K, expenses of $295K, and assets of $379K (revenue -0.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $296K, expenses of $275K, and assets of $378K (revenue +6.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $278K, expenses of $222K, and assets of $357K (revenue -6.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $297K, expenses of $268K, and assets of $301K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Ember Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Ember 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.