Howard B Bernick Foundation
Howard B Bernick Foundation maintains stable assets despite fluctuating revenues and zero executive compensation.
EIN: 208042481 · Chicago, IL · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.5M |
| Total Expenses | $922K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $3 |
| Net Assets | $3.0M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Howard B Bernick Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Howard B Bernick Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Howard B Bernick Foundation
Howard B Bernick Foundation (EIN: 208042481) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $3.5M and total assets of $3.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Howard B Bernick Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Howard B Bernick Foundation is a mid-size 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 -13.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $110K |
| Total Expenses | $922K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-811,432 |
| Total Assets | $3.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $3.0M |
| Operating Margin | -734.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 38.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Howard B Bernick Foundation reported a deficit of $811K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 38.4 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), Howard B Bernick Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -13.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -91.5% | +17.3% | -20.3% |
| 2022 | -38.3% | +23.9% | +16.2% |
| 2020 | -117.1% | -6.3% | -30.4% |
| 2019 | +13.4% | +30.8% | +38.9% |
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 Howard B Bernick 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, Howard B Bernick 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 $811K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led organization or one where leadership compensation is covered by other means, which is highly efficient for a foundation of its size with assets around $3 million.
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 Howard B Bernick Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility (e.g., $1.3M in 2022 to $110K in 2023)
- Negative revenue reported in 2020 ($-108,175)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Howard B Bernick Foundation:
- Consistent zero officer compensation across all filings
- Stable asset base despite revenue fluctuations (e.g., $3.2M in 2023, $3.7M in 2022)
- Minimal liabilities reported ($0 or $1 in all filings)
- Long filing history (10 filings) indicating sustained operation
Frequently Asked Questions about Howard B Bernick Foundation
Is Howard B Bernick Foundation a legitimate charity?
Howard B Bernick Foundation (EIN: 208042481) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $3.5M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Howard B Bernick Foundation spend its money?
Howard B Bernick Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Howard B Bernick Foundation tax-deductible?
Howard B Bernick Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208042481). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Howard B Bernick Foundation CEO make?
Howard B Bernick Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $3 annually. The organization reported $3.5M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Howard B Bernick Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Howard B Bernick Foundation directs 90% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Howard B Bernick Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Howard B Bernick 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 Howard B Bernick Foundation located?
Howard B Bernick Foundation is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 208042481. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Howard B Bernick Foundation have?
Howard B Bernick 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 $3.5M in total revenue.
Is Howard B Bernick Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided data, the Howard B Bernick Foundation appears to be a well-managed organization with a strong commitment to its mission, evidenced by zero officer compensation and stable assets. The lack of detailed spending breakdowns (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided data makes a definitive assessment of 'good' challenging, but the financial indicators are positive.
How does the foundation manage its finances given revenue volatility?
Despite significant revenue fluctuations, such as the drop from $1.3 million in 2022 to $110,434 in 2023, the foundation has maintained a relatively stable asset base, ranging from $2.5 million to $3.9 million over the years. This suggests effective asset management and potentially reliance on endowment or investment income to smooth out operational funding.
What is the significance of zero officer compensation?
Zero officer compensation across all filings is a significant strength, indicating that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other entities, allowing a greater proportion of funds to be directed towards its mission rather than administrative salaries.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Howard B Bernick Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Howard B Bernick Foundation's revenue has declined by 81.3%, moving from $590K to $110K. Total assets decreased by 21.8% over the same period, from $3.8M to $3.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 91%, from $483K to $922K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Howard B Bernick Foundation reported a deficit of $811K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $3.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $3.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $110K | $922K | $3.0M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.3M | $786K | $3.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.1M | $634K | $3.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $-108,175 | $995K | $2.5M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $632K | $1.1M | $3.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $557K | $811K | $2.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $929K | $841K | $3.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $560K | $840K | $3.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $800K | $429K | $3.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $590K | $483K | $3.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $110K, expenses of $922K, and assets of $3.0M (revenue -91.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $786K, and assets of $3.7M (revenue -38.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $634K, and assets of $3.2M.
- 2020: Revenue of $-108,175, expenses of $995K, and assets of $2.5M (revenue -117.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $632K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +13.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $557K, expenses of $811K, and assets of $2.6M (revenue -40.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $929K, expenses of $841K, and assets of $3.3M (revenue +65.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $560K, expenses of $840K, and assets of $3.5M (revenue -30.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $800K, expenses of $429K, and assets of $3.9M (revenue +35.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $590K, expenses of $483K, and assets of $3.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Howard B Bernick Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Howard B Bernick 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.