Gilder Foundation Inc
Gilder Foundation Inc. experiences significant asset decline and volatile financial performance over the past decade.
EIN: 136176041 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $4.7M |
| Total Expenses | $4.0M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $945K |
| Transparency Score | 55/100 |
Is Gilder Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Gilder Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Gilder Foundation Inc
Gilder Foundation Inc (EIN: 136176041) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $4.7M and total assets of $945K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Gilder Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Gilder Foundation Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 61 years, with 7 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2020). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -27.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $569K |
| Total Expenses | $4.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-3,465,681 |
| Total Assets | $945K |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $945K |
| Operating Margin | -609.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 2.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2020, Gilder Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $3.5M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 2.8 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 7 years of filings (2011–2020), Gilder Foundation Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -27.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -97.0% | -74.1% | -78.6% |
| 2019 | +3.5% | +67.5% | -88.2% |
| 2015 | -40.6% | -79.2% | +33.3% |
| 2014 | +181.7% | +71.2% | -32.4% |
| 2013 | -1.2% | +277.3% | -26.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1965 |
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 Gilder Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 55 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Gilder Foundation Inc 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 (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $3.5M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Gilder Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a volunteer executive team or that executive compensation is not reported in this specific category, which could impact transparency.
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 Gilder Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant decline in assets from $56M in 2012 to under $1M in 2020.
- Extreme volatility and inconsistency in annual revenue.
- Expenses frequently exceeding revenue, leading to negative net income in multiple years (e.g., 2020, 2014, 2013, 2011).
- Lack of detailed spending breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, hindering efficiency assessment.
- Unclear reporting of executive compensation, despite 0% officer comp, which could obscure true leadership costs.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Gilder Foundation Inc:
- Consistently low reported liabilities ($1 or $1,210), indicating minimal debt burden.
- Reports 0% officer compensation, suggesting a potentially volunteer-led or very lean executive structure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gilder Foundation Inc
Is Gilder Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Gilder Foundation Inc (EIN: 136176041) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 55/100. It has 7 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $4.7M. 5 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Gilder Foundation Inc spend its money?
Gilder Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Gilder Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Gilder Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136176041). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Gilder Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
Gilder Foundation Inc directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Gilder Foundation Inc located?
Gilder Foundation Inc is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 136176041.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Gilder Foundation Inc have?
Gilder Foundation Inc has 7 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 $4.7M in total revenue.
Why have the Gilder Foundation's assets decreased so dramatically from $56,362,050 in 2012 to $944,876 in 2020?
The significant decline in assets suggests substantial expenditures exceeding revenues or significant asset divestment over the past decade, warranting further investigation into the foundation's financial strategy and activities.
What is the reason for the extreme volatility in annual revenue, ranging from $568,694 in 2020 to $31,308,932 in 2014?
Such large fluctuations in revenue could indicate reliance on a few large, infrequent donations or investment income that varies significantly year-to-year, making financial planning challenging.
How does the Gilder Foundation sustain operations when expenses frequently exceed revenue, such as in 2020 where expenses were $4,034,375 against revenue of $568,694?
When expenses consistently exceed revenue, organizations typically draw from their asset reserves. The observed decline in assets supports this, but it's not a sustainable long-term model without new significant funding sources.
Is the Gilder Foundation a good charity?
Based on the available financial data, the Gilder Foundation exhibits significant financial instability with declining assets and highly volatile revenue. While it reports no officer compensation, the overall financial health and sustainability are concerning, making it difficult to classify as a 'good' charity without more detailed operational and programmatic information.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Gilder Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 7 years of public records:
Over 7 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2020), Gilder Foundation Inc's revenue has declined by 94.2%, moving from $9.7M to $569K. Total assets decreased by 98.2% over the same period, from $52.0M to $945K. Total functional expenses fell by 87.2%, from $31.6M to $4.0M. In its most recent filing year (2020), Gilder Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $3.5M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $945K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $945K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $569K | $4.0M | $945K | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $19.2M | $15.6M | $4.4M | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $18.6M | $9.3M | $37.2M | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $31.3M | $44.7M | $27.9M | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $11.1M | $26.1M | $41.4M | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $11.3M | $6.9M | $56.4M | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $9.7M | $31.6M | $52.0M | $1K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2020: Revenue of $569K, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $945K (revenue -97.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $19.2M, expenses of $15.6M, and assets of $4.4M (revenue +3.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $18.6M, expenses of $9.3M, and assets of $37.2M (revenue -40.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $31.3M, expenses of $44.7M, and assets of $27.9M (revenue +181.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $11.1M, expenses of $26.1M, and assets of $41.4M (revenue -1.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $11.3M, expenses of $6.9M, and assets of $56.4M (revenue +15.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $9.7M, expenses of $31.6M, and assets of $52.0M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Gilder Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Gilder Foundation Inc 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.