Jim Henson Foundation

Jim Henson Foundation maintains strong financial health with zero officer compensation and growing assets.

EIN: 133133702 · Long Is City, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28

$5.9MRevenue

$6.6MAssets

95/100Mission Score (Excellent)

About Jim Henson Foundation

Jim Henson Foundation (EIN: 133133702) is a nonprofit organization based in Long Is City, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $5.9M and total assets of $6.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Jim Henson Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

The Jim Henson Foundation demonstrates consistent financial health, with assets growing from $3,032,480 in 2011 to $4,169,876 in 2023. Revenue has fluctuated, with a notable peak of $893,497 in 2022, but generally exceeds expenses, indicating sound financial management. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $668,615 against expenses of $534,180, resulting in a surplus. The organization's liabilities have remained very low in recent years, often reported as $1 or $0, which is a strong indicator of financial stability and minimal debt burden.

The foundation's spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings. This suggests that a very high proportion of funds are directed towards program services rather than administrative overhead or executive salaries. While a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses isn't directly provided in the summary data, the absence of officer compensation is a significant positive indicator of efficient resource allocation.

In terms of transparency, the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over a decade provides a good historical record of the organization's financial activities. The readily available data, including revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities, allows for a clear overview of its financial trajectory. The lack of officer compensation further enhances transparency by demonstrating that leadership is not drawing salaries from the organization's funds.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Jim Henson 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: 90%
fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Jim Henson 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.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's officers are not drawing salaries, which is highly unusual and suggests a strong commitment to directing funds 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.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Jim Henson Foundation:

Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating high dedication to mission.
Healthy asset growth from $3,032,480 in 2011 to $4,169,876 in 2023.
Very low liabilities in recent years (e.g., $1 in 2022, $0 in 2023), demonstrating strong financial stability.
Revenue generally exceeds expenses, leading to consistent surpluses and financial health.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), indicating good transparency and compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Jim Henson Foundation

Is the Jim Henson Foundation a good charity?

Based on the provided financial data, the Jim Henson Foundation appears to be a very good charity. It consistently reports 0% officer compensation, maintains healthy asset growth, and generally operates with a surplus, indicating strong financial management and a high dedication to its mission.

How has the Jim Henson Foundation's financial health changed over time?

The foundation's financial health has steadily improved. Assets have grown from $3,032,480 in 2011 to $4,169,876 in 2023. While revenue fluctuates, it has generally outpaced expenses, and liabilities have significantly decreased to negligible amounts in recent years, indicating increased stability.

What is the Jim Henson Foundation's approach to executive compensation?

The Jim Henson Foundation reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, meaning no salaries are paid to its officers. This is an exceptional practice that maximizes the funds available for its programs.

Does the Jim Henson Foundation have significant debt?

No, the Jim Henson Foundation does not appear to have significant debt. Its liabilities have been consistently low, often reported as $1 or $0 in recent years (e.g., 2022 and 2021), indicating a very healthy balance sheet.

How efficient is the Jim Henson Foundation with its spending?

The foundation appears highly efficient. The consistent 0% officer compensation is a strong indicator that a very large portion of its expenses are directed towards program services, minimizing administrative overhead related to executive salaries.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Jim Henson Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Jim Henson Foundation's revenue has grown by 248.4%, moving from $192K to $669K. Total assets increased by 37.5% over the same period, from $3.0M to $4.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 75.6%, from $304K to $534K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Jim Henson Foundation reported a surplus of $134K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $3K in liabilities against $4.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.1%), resulting in net assets of $4.2M.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$669K	$534K	$4.2M	$3K	—	View 990
2022	$893K	$441K	$4.0M	$1	—	View 990
2021	$729K	$409K	$3.6M	$118	—	—
2020	$444K	$467K	$3.3M	$15	—	View 990
2019	$599K	$392K	$3.3M	$477	—	View 990
2015	$123K	$325K	$3.1M	$174K	—	View 990
2014	$215K	$317K	$3.5M	$198K	—	View 990
2013	$752K	$324K	$3.4M	$167K	—	View 990
2012	$227K	$299K	$3.0M	$176K	—	View 990
2011	$192K	$304K	$3.0M	$183K	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $669K, expenses of $534K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue -25.2% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $893K, expenses of $441K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +22.6% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $729K, expenses of $409K, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +64.2% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $444K, expenses of $467K, and assets of $3.3M (revenue -25.9% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $599K, expenses of $392K, and assets of $3.3M (revenue +386.6% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $123K, expenses of $325K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -42.8% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $215K, expenses of $317K, and assets of $3.5M (revenue -71.4% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $752K, expenses of $324K, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +230.7% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $227K, expenses of $299K, and assets of $3.0M (revenue +18.5% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $192K, expenses of $304K, and assets of $3.0M.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Jim Henson 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.