Hobson Lucas Family Foundation
Hobson Lucas Family Foundation maintains over $1.2 billion in assets despite volatile revenue and expenses, with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 203940983 · San Rafael, CA · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Hobson Lucas Family Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Hobson Lucas Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Hobson Lucas Family Foundation
Hobson Lucas Family Foundation (EIN: 203940983) is a nonprofit organization based in San Rafael, CA, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $113.5M and total assets of $1.2B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Hobson Lucas Family Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Hobson Lucas Family Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -3.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $37.1M |
| Total Expenses | $41.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-4,377,903 |
| Total Assets | $1.2B |
| Total Liabilities | $71.7M |
| Net Assets | $1.1B |
| Operating Margin | -11.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 6.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 340.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Hobson Lucas Family Foundation reported a deficit of $4.4M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 340.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 6.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Hobson Lucas Family Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -3.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -9.4% | +38.8% | +7.3% |
| 2022 | -64.4% | -73.0% | -18.0% |
| 2021 | +145.3% | -0.5% | +9.2% |
| 2020 | +15.3% | +94.8% | +9.9% |
| 2019 | +104.8% | +68.7% | +6.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
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 Hobson Lucas Family 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: 5%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Hobson Lucas Family Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. 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 deficit of $4.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 6.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with over $1.2 billion in assets and significant annual expenses, suggesting either a fully volunteer leadership or compensation is categorized differently.
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 Hobson Lucas Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Extreme volatility in annual revenue and expenses, making financial forecasting challenging.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization of this scale is unusual and warrants further investigation into how leadership is compensated or structured.
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue in several periods (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011), indicating reliance on asset drawdowns or prior year surpluses.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Hobson Lucas Family Foundation:
- Substantial and growing asset base of over $1.2 billion, providing significant long-term financial stability.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a commitment to minimizing direct executive overhead.
- Strong NTEE code (T22 - Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations) indicates a clear focus on grantmaking and supporting other nonprofits.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hobson Lucas Family Foundation
Is Hobson Lucas Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Hobson Lucas Family Foundation (EIN: 203940983) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Hobson Lucas Family Foundation spend its money?
Hobson Lucas Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Hobson Lucas Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Hobson Lucas Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203940983). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the Hobson Lucas Family Foundation manage its significant revenue and expense volatility?
The foundation exhibits extreme fluctuations in both revenue and expenses, with revenue ranging from $17.5 million to over $1 billion and expenses from $8.5 million to $135 million. This volatility suggests a reliance on unpredictable funding sources or a strategic approach to grantmaking that results in uneven annual outlays.
What is the nature of the 0% officer compensation reported by the foundation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of this size and asset base. It could indicate that officers are unpaid volunteers, compensated through a related entity not reported on the 990, or that compensation is classified under other expense categories.
Is the foundation's asset growth consistent with its financial activities?
Despite significant revenue and expense fluctuations, the foundation's assets have generally grown, from $90 million in 2011 to over $1.2 billion currently. This indicates effective asset management and investment strategies, even during periods where expenses exceeded revenue.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Hobson Lucas Family Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Hobson Lucas Family Foundation's revenue has declined by 33.1%, moving from $55.5M to $37.1M. Total assets increased by 1200.7% over the same period, from $90.5M to $1.2B. Total functional expenses fell by 47%, from $78.3M to $41.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Hobson Lucas Family Foundation reported a deficit of $4.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $71.7M in liabilities against $1.2B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 6.1%), resulting in net assets of $1.1B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $37.1M | $41.5M | $1.2B | $71.7M | — | — |
| 2022 | $41.0M | $29.9M | $1.1B | $97.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $115.2M | $110.7M | $1.3B | $135.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $47.0M | $111.3M | $1.2B | $97.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $40.8M | $57.1M | $1.1B | $47.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $19.9M | $33.9M | $1.0B | $85.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $26.9M | $40.5M | $1.1B | $111.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $17.5M | $135.3M | $1.2B | $131.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.1B | $8.5M | $1.1B | $26.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $55.5M | $78.3M | $90.5M | $45.7M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $37.1M, expenses of $41.5M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue -9.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $41.0M, expenses of $29.9M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -64.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $115.2M, expenses of $110.7M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue +145.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $47.0M, expenses of $111.3M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +15.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $40.8M, expenses of $57.1M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +104.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $19.9M, expenses of $33.9M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue -26.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $26.9M, expenses of $40.5M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +53.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $17.5M, expenses of $135.3M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue -98.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.1B, expenses of $8.5M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +1840.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $55.5M, expenses of $78.3M, and assets of $90.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Hobson Lucas Family Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Hobson Lucas 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.