Griffith Foundation
Griffith Foundation consistently grows assets with minimal reported expenses and no officer compensation.
EIN: 137436765 · Pittsburgh, PA · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.9M |
| Total Expenses | $73K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $7.0M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Griffith Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Griffith Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Griffith Foundation
Griffith Foundation (EIN: 137436765) is a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, PA, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $3.9M and total assets of $8.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Griffith Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Griffith Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 11.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $602K |
| Total Expenses | $73K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$529K |
| Total Assets | $7.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $7.0M |
| Operating Margin | 87.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 1153.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Griffith Foundation reported a surplus of $529K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 1153.2 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), Griffith Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +29.1% | -44.8% | +8.3% |
| 2022 | -66.7% | -14.5% | +5.2% |
| 2021 | -59.6% | -63.0% | +25.4% |
| 2020 | +1055.6% | +34.2% | +33.6% |
| 2019 | +23.0% | -35.9% | +26.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
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 Griffith Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 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: 8%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 2%
According to IRS 990 filings, Griffith Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 8%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 2%. 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 $529K, 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 officers are either unpaid volunteers or compensated by an external entity, which is a strong positive for transparency and 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 Griffith Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Extremely low expense ratio relative to revenue and assets, raising questions about direct programmatic impact.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown in available data makes it difficult to ascertain program vs. administrative spending.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Griffith Foundation:
- Consistent and significant asset growth, from $2.9M in 2011 to $7.0M in 2023.
- Zero reported officer compensation, indicating strong volunteer leadership or external support.
- Virtually no liabilities, demonstrating strong financial stability.
- High revenue generation, with latest reported revenue at $3,920,364.
Frequently Asked Questions about Griffith Foundation
Is Griffith Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Griffith Foundation (EIN: 137436765) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Griffith Foundation spend its money?
Griffith Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Griffith Foundation tax-deductible?
Griffith Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 137436765). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Griffith Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Griffith Foundation directs 90% to programs, 2% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Griffith Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Griffith Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Griffith Foundation located?
Griffith Foundation is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and files with the IRS under EIN 137436765. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Griffith Foundation have?
Griffith Foundation has 10 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 $3.9M in total revenue.
What is the primary purpose of the Griffith Foundation, given its NTEE code T22 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations)?
The NTEE code T22 suggests the Griffith Foundation is primarily a grantmaking entity or supports other philanthropic organizations. Its financial pattern of high revenue retention and asset growth, coupled with low expenses, aligns with a foundation that makes grants rather than directly operating programs.
How does the organization achieve such low expenses relative to its revenue and assets?
The extremely low expense figures ($72,924 in 2023 against $602,400 revenue) suggest that the foundation either operates with minimal overhead, relies heavily on volunteer efforts, or primarily functions as an endowment builder, distributing a smaller portion of its income as grants or program spending.
What is the nature of the 'Liabilities=$1' reported in recent filings?
The consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across several recent filings (2020-2023) is unusual and could indicate a nominal placeholder or a specific accounting practice for a minor, recurring liability. It suggests the organization has virtually no financial debt or significant outstanding obligations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Griffith Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Griffith Foundation's revenue has grown by 282.1%, moving from $158K to $602K. Total assets increased by 140.4% over the same period, from $2.9M to $7.0M. Total functional expenses fell by 49.7%, from $145K to $73K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Griffith Foundation reported a surplus of $529K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $7.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $7.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $602K | $73K | $7.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $467K | $132K | $6.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.4M | $155K | $6.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $3.5M | $418K | $4.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $300K | $311K | $3.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $244K | $486K | $2.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $373K | $332K | $3.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $321K | $670K | $3.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.7M | $445K | $3.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $158K | $145K | $2.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $602K, expenses of $73K, and assets of $7.0M (revenue +29.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $467K, expenses of $132K, and assets of $6.5M (revenue -66.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $155K, and assets of $6.1M (revenue -59.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $418K, and assets of $4.9M (revenue +1055.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $300K, expenses of $311K, and assets of $3.7M (revenue +23.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $244K, expenses of $486K, and assets of $2.9M (revenue -34.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $373K, expenses of $332K, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +16.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $321K, expenses of $670K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -80.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $445K, and assets of $3.5M (revenue +955.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $158K, expenses of $145K, and assets of $2.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Griffith Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Griffith 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.