Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism
Frederick P Lenz Foundation maintains strong asset base with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 134014022 · Los Angeles, CA · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism
Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism (EIN: 134014022) is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, CA. The organization reported total revenue of $5.6M and total assets of $13.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 28 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $995K |
| Total Expenses | $819K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$176K |
| Total Assets | $11.7M |
| Total Liabilities | $2K |
| Net Assets | $11.7M |
| Operating Margin | 17.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 171.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism reported a surplus of $176K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 171.9 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), Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +161.5% | +13.7% | +7.4% |
| 2022 | -46.8% | -9.6% | -14.5% |
| 2021 | -48.3% | +41.1% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | +60.9% | -29.8% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | -28.6% | +1.6% | +9.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1998 |
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 Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism 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: 10%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism 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.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $176K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the organization. This is highly unusual for an organization with assets exceeding $10 million and suggests a volunteer-led executive structure or that compensation is covered by an external entity, which significantly boosts the organization's financial efficiency.
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 Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism's IRS 990 filings:
- Fluctuating annual revenues, indicating potential reliance on investment returns or inconsistent donations.
- NTEE Code is unknown, which can make it harder to benchmark against similar organizations.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating high efficiency and dedication of funds to mission.
- Strong and stable asset base, consistently over $10 million, providing long-term financial security.
- Extremely low liabilities across all periods, demonstrating excellent financial management and low risk.
- Expenses generally stable, suggesting predictable operational costs and effective budgeting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism
Is Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism (EIN: 134014022) some concerns. Mission Score: 95/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism spend its money?
Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism tax-deductible?
Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134014022). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism a good charity?
Based on the provided data, the foundation appears to be a very good charity. It consistently reports 0% officer compensation, maintains a strong asset base (over $10 million), and has minimal liabilities, all indicating strong financial health and efficient use of funds.
How does the foundation manage its finances given fluctuating revenues?
The foundation manages its finances by maintaining a substantial asset base, which likely includes an endowment. This allows it to cover consistent operational expenses even in years where revenue is lower than expenses, such as in 2022 ($380,571 revenue vs. $719,715 expenses) and 2021 ($715,182 revenue vs. $796,291 expenses).
What is the significance of 0% officer compensation?
0% officer compensation is highly significant as it means no funds are being used to pay executive salaries. This suggests that either the executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based or their compensation is covered by other means, allowing a greater proportion of the organization's budget to be directed towards its mission.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism's revenue has grown by 23.8%, moving from $804K to $995K. Total assets increased by 25.5% over the same period, from $9.3M to $11.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 9%, from $751K to $819K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism reported a surplus of $176K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $2K in liabilities against $11.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $11.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $995K | $819K | $11.7M | $2K | — | — |
| 2022 | $381K | $720K | $10.9M | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $715K | $796K | $12.8M | $606 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.4M | $564K | $12.5M | $24K | — | — |
| 2019 | $860K | $804K | $12.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.2M | $791K | $11.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $423K | $791K | $8.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $498K | $671K | $9.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $773K | $793K | $9.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $804K | $751K | $9.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $995K, expenses of $819K, and assets of $11.7M (revenue +161.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $381K, expenses of $720K, and assets of $10.9M (revenue -46.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $715K, expenses of $796K, and assets of $12.8M (revenue -48.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $564K, and assets of $12.5M (revenue +60.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $860K, expenses of $804K, and assets of $12.7M (revenue -28.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $791K, and assets of $11.6M (revenue +184.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $423K, expenses of $791K, and assets of $8.9M (revenue -15.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $498K, expenses of $671K, and assets of $9.2M (revenue -35.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $773K, expenses of $793K, and assets of $9.3M (revenue -3.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $804K, expenses of $751K, and assets of $9.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Frederick P Lenz Foundation For American Buddhism 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.