Fisher Charitable Foundation

Fisher Charitable Foundation's assets have declined by over 50% in a decade due to consistent deficit spending.

EIN: 10512082 · Portland, ME · NTEE: J32Z · Updated: 2026-03-28

$1.1MRevenue
$2.7MAssets
65/100Mission Score (Good)
J32Z
Fisher Charitable Foundation Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$1.1M
Total Expenses$631K
Program Spending80%
Net Assets$2.7M
Transparency Score65/100

Is Fisher Charitable Foundation Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
GoodTransparency
3 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

Fisher Charitable Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Fisher Charitable Foundation

Fisher Charitable Foundation (EIN: 10512082) is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME, classified under NTEE code J32Z. The organization reported total revenue of $1.1M and total assets of $2.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Fisher Charitable Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

29Years Operating
Mid-SizeSize Classification
10Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

Fisher Charitable Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 29 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.0%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$481K
Total Expenses$631K
Surplus / Deficit$-149,784
Total Assets$2.7M
Total Liabilities$1
Net Assets$2.7M
Operating Margin-31.1%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio0.0%
Months of Reserves51.1 months

Financial Health Grade: B

In 2023, Fisher Charitable Foundation reported a deficit of $150K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 51.1 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), Fisher Charitable Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023+40.2%-3.5%-5.2%
2022+40.3%+4.0%-9.9%
2021-6.7%+1.6%-10.7%
2020-29.5%-14.5%-9.0%
2019+54.4%+13.9%-24.1%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes1000
IRS Ruling Date1997

Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.

AI Transparency Report

The Fisher Charitable Foundation demonstrates a consistent pattern of spending exceeding its revenue over the past several years, as evidenced by the 202312 filing showing expenses of $631,228 against revenue of $481,444, and similar trends in prior years. This has led to a gradual decline in its asset base, from $5,547,829 in 2011 to $2,687,983 in 2023. While the organization maintains a very low liability profile, often reporting only $1 in liabilities, the sustained deficit spending raises questions about long-term financial sustainability if not addressed. The absence of officer compensation reported across all filings suggests a volunteer-driven leadership or that compensation is covered by other means, which can be a positive indicator of efficiency. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency. The NTEE code J32Z (Foundations, Grantmaking & Giving Services) suggests its primary activity is grantmaking, which typically has lower administrative overhead compared to direct service organizations. The consistent decline in assets, despite minimal liabilities and no reported officer compensation, warrants closer examination of how its expenses are allocated and funded. The foundation's transparency is good in terms of filing its 990s consistently, but the lack of detailed expense allocation in the provided data limits a deeper analysis of its operational efficiency.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Fisher Charitable 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: 15%
  • programs: 80%
  • fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Fisher Charitable 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 (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

$481KTotal Revenue
$631KTotal Expenses
$2.7MTotal Assets
$1Total Liabilities
$2.7MNet Assets
  • The organization reported a deficit of $150K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
  • Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other entities, which is a strong positive for minimizing overhead.

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 Fisher Charitable Foundation's IRS 990 filings:

  • Consistent deficit spending over multiple years (e.g., 2023 expenses $631,228 vs. revenue $481,444).
  • Significant decline in total assets by over 50% from $5.5 million in 2011 to $2.6 million in 2023.
  • Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data makes full efficiency assessment difficult.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Fisher Charitable Foundation:

  • Extremely low liabilities, often reported as $1, indicating strong financial control over debt.
  • Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting volunteer leadership or highly efficient executive cost management.
  • Consistent filing of IRS 990s, demonstrating good transparency in financial reporting.
  • Maintains a substantial asset base of $2.7 million, providing a buffer despite recent declines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fisher Charitable Foundation

Is Fisher Charitable Foundation a legitimate charity?

Fisher Charitable Foundation (EIN: 10512082) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Maine. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.1M. 3 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.

How does Fisher Charitable Foundation spend its money?

Fisher Charitable Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.

Are donations to Fisher Charitable Foundation tax-deductible?

Fisher Charitable Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10512082). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

What percentage of Fisher Charitable Foundation's spending goes to programs?

Fisher Charitable Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

How does Fisher Charitable Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?

With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Fisher Charitable Foundation is above average for NTEE category J32Z nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.

Where is Fisher Charitable Foundation located?

Fisher Charitable Foundation is headquartered in Portland, Maine and files with the IRS under EIN 10512082. It is classified under NTEE code J32Z.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does Fisher Charitable Foundation have?

Fisher Charitable 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 $1.1M in total revenue.

Is Fisher Charitable Foundation financially sustainable given its consistent deficit spending?

The foundation has consistently spent more than it earned for many years, leading to a significant reduction in its asset base from $5.5 million in 2011 to $2.6 million in 2023. This trend is not sustainable long-term without a change in revenue generation or expense management.

What is the primary cause of the decline in the foundation's assets?

The primary cause is the consistent pattern of expenses exceeding revenue. For example, in 2023, expenses were $631,228 while revenue was $481,444, resulting in a net loss that draws from the asset base.

How does the lack of officer compensation impact the organization's efficiency?

The absence of reported officer compensation is a strong indicator of high efficiency in terms of leadership costs, suggesting that resources are not being diverted to executive salaries.

What is the organization's NTEE code and what does it imply about its operations?

The NTEE code J32Z indicates 'Foundations, Grantmaking & Giving Services.' This suggests the organization primarily functions by making grants to other entities, which typically involves lower direct program delivery costs but requires robust financial management for its endowment.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Fisher Charitable Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Fisher Charitable Foundation's revenue has grown by 101.3%, moving from $239K to $481K. Total assets decreased by 51.5% over the same period, from $5.5M to $2.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 57.9%, from $400K to $631K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Fisher Charitable Foundation reported a deficit of $150K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $2.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $2.7M.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $481K $631K $2.7M $1 View 990
2022 $343K $654K $2.8M $1 View 990
2021 $245K $628K $3.1M $591
2020 $262K $618K $3.5M $543
2019 $372K $723K $3.9M $66 View 990
2015 $241K $634K $5.1M $282 View 990
2014 $753K $534K $5.5M $1 View 990
2013 $438K $526K $5.3M $1 View 990
2012 $261K $438K $5.4M $1 View 990
2011 $239K $400K $5.5M $0 View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

  • 2023: Revenue of $481K, expenses of $631K, and assets of $2.7M (revenue +40.2% year-over-year).
  • 2022: Revenue of $343K, expenses of $654K, and assets of $2.8M (revenue +40.3% year-over-year).
  • 2021: Revenue of $245K, expenses of $628K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -6.7% year-over-year).
  • 2020: Revenue of $262K, expenses of $618K, and assets of $3.5M (revenue -29.5% year-over-year).
  • 2019: Revenue of $372K, expenses of $723K, and assets of $3.9M (revenue +54.4% year-over-year).
  • 2015: Revenue of $241K, expenses of $634K, and assets of $5.1M (revenue -68.0% year-over-year).
  • 2014: Revenue of $753K, expenses of $534K, and assets of $5.5M (revenue +72.1% year-over-year).
  • 2013: Revenue of $438K, expenses of $526K, and assets of $5.3M (revenue +67.6% year-over-year).
  • 2012: Revenue of $261K, expenses of $438K, and assets of $5.4M (revenue +9.2% year-over-year).
  • 2011: Revenue of $239K, expenses of $400K, and assets of $5.5M.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Fisher Charitable Foundation:

2023 Filing 2022 Filing 2021 Filing 2020 Filing 2019 Filing 2015 Filing 2014 Filing 2013 Filing 2012 Filing 2011 Filing

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Fisher Charitable 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.

Other Nonprofits in Maine

Explore more nonprofits based in Maine with AI-powered transparency reports.

View all Maine nonprofits →

Similar Organizations (NTEE J32Z)

Other nonprofits classified under NTEE code J32Z.

View all J32Z nonprofits →

Explore Related Nonprofits

Browse by State