Forum Foundation
Forum Foundation consistently operates at a significant deficit, drawing down assets to cover expenses.
EIN: 203986056 · S Portland, ME · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Forum Foundation Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Forum Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Forum Foundation
Forum Foundation (EIN: 203986056) is a nonprofit organization based in S Portland, ME, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $22K and total assets of $6.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Forum Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Forum Foundation with a Mission Score of 45 out of 100 (Fair). 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: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Forum Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through non-officer roles, which is a positive 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 Forum Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent and significant operational deficits (e.g., $35,361 revenue vs. $797,769 expenses in 2023).
- Substantial decline in assets over recent years (from $8.4 million in 2020 to $6.8 million in 2023).
- Revenue figures are extremely low relative to expenses, indicating an unsustainable financial model.
- Negative revenue reported in some years (e.g., $-723,134 in 2014, $-76,996 in 2012), which could indicate investment losses or unusual accounting.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Forum Foundation:
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting efficient use of funds at the leadership level.
- Substantial asset base ($6.8 million in 2023) provides a buffer, though it is being depleted.
- Low liabilities reported in most recent years (e.g., $1 in 2023 and 2021).
Frequently Asked Questions about Forum Foundation
Is Forum Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Forum Foundation (EIN: 203986056) significant concerns. Mission Score: 45/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Forum Foundation spend its money?
Forum Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Forum Foundation tax-deductible?
Forum Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203986056). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Forum Foundation sustain its operations with such low revenue compared to expenses?
The organization appears to be sustaining operations by drawing down its substantial asset base, as evidenced by the consistent decline in assets from $8.4 million in 2020 to $6.8 million in 2023, while expenses far outstrip revenue.
What is the primary source of Forum Foundation's expenses if officer compensation is zero?
Given its NTEE code (Private Grantmaking Foundations), it is highly probable that the majority of expenses are related to grants paid out to other organizations, although specific program spending details are not provided in the summary data.
Is the Forum Foundation transparent about its financial strategy given the consistent deficits?
While the 990 filings provide the raw data, the consistent and significant operational deficits, coupled with asset depletion, raise questions about the long-term financial strategy and whether it is clearly communicated to stakeholders.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Forum Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Total assets increased by 140.7% over the same period, from $2.8M to $6.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 432.4%, from $150K to $798K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Forum Foundation reported a deficit of $762K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $6.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $6.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $35K | $798K | $6.8M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $43K | $670K | $7.3M | $18K | — | — |
| 2021 | $37K | $464K | $8.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $5.2M | $649K | $8.4M | $3K | — | — |
| 2019 | $3.0M | $1.1M | $3.6M | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $476K | $906K | $6K | $50K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $-723,134 | $934K | $395K | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $170K | $495K | $2.0M | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $-76,996 | $395K | $2.4M | $14K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $-8,059 | $150K | $2.8M | $473 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $35K, expenses of $798K, and assets of $6.8M (revenue -18.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $43K, expenses of $670K, and assets of $7.3M (revenue +15.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $37K, expenses of $464K, and assets of $8.3M (revenue -99.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.2M, expenses of $649K, and assets of $8.4M (revenue +74.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +532.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $476K, expenses of $906K, and assets of $6K.
- 2014: Revenue of $-723,134, expenses of $934K, and assets of $395K (revenue -524.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $170K, expenses of $495K, and assets of $2.0M.
- 2012: Revenue of $-76,996, expenses of $395K, and assets of $2.4M.
- 2011: Revenue of $-8,059, expenses of $150K, and assets of $2.8M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Forum 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.