Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation maintains substantial assets despite recent operating deficits, consistently funding programs.
EIN: 131684331 · New York, NY · NTEE: T21 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.8B |
| Total Expenses | $851.8M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $16 |
| Net Assets | $14.3B |
| Transparency Score | 88/100 |
Is Ford Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Ford Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation (EIN: 131684331) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T21. The organization reported total revenue of $3.8B and total assets of $17.5B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Ford Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Ford Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 66 years, with 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $502.4M |
| Total Expenses | $851.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-349,410,384 |
| Total Assets | $16.8B |
| Total Liabilities | $2.5B |
| Net Assets | $14.3B |
| Operating Margin | -69.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 14.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 236.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Ford Foundation reported a deficit of $349.4M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 236.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 14.6% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 11 years of filings (2011–2023), Ford Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -45.7% | -12.4% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | -2.4% | -27.5% | -18.2% |
| 2021 | +45.4% | +20.3% | +12.5% |
| 2020 | +41.6% | +67.5% | +25.1% |
| 2019 | -5.4% | -12.0% | +17.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1960 |
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 Ford Foundation with a Mission Score of 88 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Ford Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% 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 deficit of $349.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 14.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently shows 0% officer compensation, which suggests that executive compensation is either not reported in this specific field on the 990 or is handled through a different structure. Given the organization's size and asset base of over $16 billion, it is highly probable that executives receive compensation, which would require deeper analysis of the full 990 forms to ascertain relative to the organization's scale.
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 Ford Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation may obscure actual executive pay, requiring deeper investigation of full 990 forms.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Ford Foundation:
- Substantial asset base ($16.79 billion in 202312) provides strong financial stability.
- Consistent and significant programmatic spending, fulfilling its mission.
- Long-term growth in assets, indicating effective endowment management.
- High transparency with readily available IRS 990 filings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ford Foundation
Is Ford Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ford Foundation (EIN: 131684331) some concerns. Mission Score: 88/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Ford Foundation spend its money?
Ford Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Ford Foundation tax-deductible?
Ford Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131684331). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Ford Foundation CEO make?
Ford Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $16 annually. The organization reported $3.8B in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Ford Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Ford Foundation directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Ford Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 88/100 (Excellent), Ford Foundation is above average for NTEE category T21 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Ford Foundation located?
Ford Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131684331. It is classified under NTEE code T21.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Ford Foundation have?
Ford Foundation has 11 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 $3.8B in total revenue.
How does the Ford Foundation manage its significant asset base?
The Ford Foundation manages an endowment of over $16 billion, with assets reported at $16,791,366,964 in 202312. This endowment is crucial for its grant-making activities and long-term sustainability, allowing it to continue operations even in years where expenses exceed revenue.
Why do expenses frequently exceed revenue for the Ford Foundation?
As a large foundation, the Ford Foundation primarily operates by spending from its endowment. Fluctuations where expenses exceed revenue (e.g., $851M expenses vs. $502M revenue in 202312) are common and expected, as the foundation aims to disburse a certain percentage of its endowment value annually for its programmatic work, rather than solely relying on annual operating revenue.
What is the trend in the Ford Foundation's assets?
The Ford Foundation's assets have shown growth over the long term, from approximately $10.98 billion in 201209 to $16.79 billion in 202312, peaking at over $20 billion in 202112. This indicates effective endowment management and investment strategies, despite market fluctuations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Ford Foundation showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Ford Foundation's revenue has declined by 10.1%, moving from $559.1M to $502.4M. Total assets increased by 62.3% over the same period, from $10.3B to $16.8B. Total functional expenses rose by 50.9%, from $564.4M to $851.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Ford Foundation reported a deficit of $349.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.5B in liabilities against $16.8B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 14.6%), resulting in net assets of $14.3B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $502.4M | $851.8M | $16.8B | $2.5B | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $925.6M | $972.6M | $16.4B | $2.5B | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $948.1M | $1.3B | $20.0B | $2.6B | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $652.0M | $1.1B | $17.8B | $2.0B | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $460.4M | $665.7M | $14.2B | $970.9M | — | — |
| 2015 | $486.7M | $756.9M | $12.1B | $389.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $658.1M | $665.7M | $12.4B | $305.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $690.0M | $685.6M | $12.1B | $309.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $165.2M | $157.9M | $11.1B | $330.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $453.8M | $616.8M | $11.0B | $298.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $559.1M | $564.4M | $10.3B | $301.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $502.4M, expenses of $851.8M, and assets of $16.8B (revenue -45.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $925.6M, expenses of $972.6M, and assets of $16.4B (revenue -2.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $948.1M, expenses of $1.3B, and assets of $20.0B (revenue +45.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $652.0M, expenses of $1.1B, and assets of $17.8B (revenue +41.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $460.4M, expenses of $665.7M, and assets of $14.2B (revenue -5.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $486.7M, expenses of $756.9M, and assets of $12.1B (revenue -26.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $658.1M, expenses of $665.7M, and assets of $12.4B (revenue -4.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $690.0M, expenses of $685.6M, and assets of $12.1B (revenue +317.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $165.2M, expenses of $157.9M, and assets of $11.1B (revenue -63.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $453.8M, expenses of $616.8M, and assets of $11.0B (revenue -18.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $559.1M, expenses of $564.4M, and assets of $10.3B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Ford Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Ford 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.