Gerstner Family Foundation
Gerstner Family Foundation maintains robust assets and zero reported officer compensation, demonstrating strong financial health and efficiency.
EIN: 208559135 · Armonk, NY · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Gerstner Family Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Gerstner Family Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Gerstner Family Foundation
Gerstner Family Foundation (EIN: 208559135) is a nonprofit organization based in Armonk, NY, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $65.7M and total assets of $157.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Gerstner Family 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 Gerstner Family 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Gerstner Family Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Gerstner Family Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets exceeding $150 million. This suggests extremely low administrative overhead related to executive pay, allowing more funds to be directed towards its mission.
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 Gerstner Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low reported liabilities, potentially indicating a lack of transparency on certain financial obligations or a highly conservative accounting approach.
- Significant year-over-year revenue fluctuations, which could lead to unpredictable funding for future programs if not managed with a substantial endowment.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Gerstner Family Foundation:
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating exceptional efficiency and dedication of resources to the mission.
- Strong and growing asset base, consistently over $150 million in recent years, providing long-term financial stability.
- Minimal liabilities relative to assets, demonstrating a very healthy balance sheet and low financial risk.
- Consistent spending on expenses (around $11 million annually in recent years) relative to a large asset base, suggesting a sustainable grant-making model.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gerstner Family Foundation
Is Gerstner Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Gerstner Family Foundation (EIN: 208559135) some concerns. Mission Score: 95/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Gerstner Family Foundation spend its money?
Gerstner Family Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Gerstner Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Gerstner Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208559135). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the Gerstner Family Foundation manage to report 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that officers may be unpaid volunteers, or their compensation is covered by an affiliated entity, or reported under a different expense category not explicitly labeled as 'officer compensation' on the 990, though the latter is less likely for direct compensation.
What is the primary source of the foundation's revenue given its fluctuations?
Given the significant fluctuations in annual revenue, ranging from $6,418,815 in 2022 to $25,761,301 in 2013, it is highly probable that the foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income (e.g., capital gains, dividends, interest) and potentially large, infrequent contributions, rather than a stable stream of program service revenue.
Is the foundation's asset growth consistent over time?
The foundation's assets have shown consistent growth over the long term, increasing from $94,972,276 in 2011 to $158,479,453 in 2023, despite some year-to-year variations (e.g., a slight dip from $161,975,216 in 2021 to $157,377,016 in 2022), indicating sound financial management and investment strategies.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Gerstner Family Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Gerstner Family Foundation's revenue has grown by 49%, moving from $8.2M to $12.2M. Total assets increased by 66.9% over the same period, from $95.0M to $158.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 75.1%, from $6.3M to $11.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Gerstner Family Foundation reported a surplus of $1.1M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $99K in liabilities against $158.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.1%), resulting in net assets of $158.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $12.2M | $11.1M | $158.5M | $99K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $6.4M | $11.0M | $157.4M | $81K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $17.8M | $11.2M | $162.0M | $84K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $14.4M | $9.7M | $155.4M | $72K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $13.0M | $12.2M | $150.6M | $1 | — | — |
| 2015 | $15.8M | $11.1M | $141.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $21.7M | $7.1M | $159.6M | $378K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $25.8M | $4.1M | $143.0M | $28K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $23.4M | $5.9M | $113.9M | $33K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $8.2M | $6.3M | $95.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $12.2M, expenses of $11.1M, and assets of $158.5M (revenue +90.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $6.4M, expenses of $11.0M, and assets of $157.4M (revenue -64.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $17.8M, expenses of $11.2M, and assets of $162.0M (revenue +24.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $14.4M, expenses of $9.7M, and assets of $155.4M (revenue +10.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $13.0M, expenses of $12.2M, and assets of $150.6M (revenue -17.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $15.8M, expenses of $11.1M, and assets of $141.3M (revenue -27.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $21.7M, expenses of $7.1M, and assets of $159.6M (revenue -15.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $25.8M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $143.0M (revenue +10.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $23.4M, expenses of $5.9M, and assets of $113.9M (revenue +186.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $8.2M, expenses of $6.3M, and assets of $95.0M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Gerstner Family 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.