John And Melissa Besse Foundation
John And Melissa Besse Foundation maintains strong assets and zero officer compensation amidst fluctuating annual distributions.
EIN: 203497950 · Wells, MI · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $893K |
| Total Expenses | $343K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $10 |
| Net Assets | $10.8M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is John And Melissa Besse Foundation Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
John And Melissa Besse Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About John And Melissa Besse Foundation
John And Melissa Besse Foundation (EIN: 203497950) is a nonprofit organization based in Wells, MI, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $893K and total assets of $9.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of John And Melissa Besse Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
John And Melissa Besse Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -8.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $499K |
| Total Expenses | $343K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$157K |
| Total Assets | $10.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $10.8M |
| Operating Margin | 31.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 377.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, John And Melissa Besse Foundation reported a surplus of $157K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 377.4 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), John And Melissa Besse Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -8.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +49.2% | +518.7% | +15.2% |
| 2022 | -54.9% | -71.1% | -18.3% |
| 2021 | +134.6% | -16.3% | +13.6% |
| 2020 | -33.0% | -65.4% | +13.6% |
| 2019 | +23.4% | -49.4% | -9.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
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 John And Melissa Besse Foundation with a Mission Score of 90 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: 10%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, John And Melissa Besse Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. 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 $157K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers. This is highly commendable for an organization with assets exceeding $10 million, suggesting a volunteer-led or extremely lean operational structure.
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 John And Melissa Besse Foundation:
- Consistently high asset base (e.g., $10,785,387 in 202312) providing long-term stability.
- Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating highly efficient use of funds.
- Extremely low liabilities (often $1), demonstrating strong financial health and minimal debt.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history, indicating good transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about John And Melissa Besse Foundation
Is John And Melissa Besse Foundation a legitimate charity?
John And Melissa Besse Foundation (EIN: 203497950) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Michigan. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $893K. No red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does John And Melissa Besse Foundation spend its money?
John And Melissa Besse Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to John And Melissa Besse Foundation tax-deductible?
John And Melissa Besse Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203497950). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the John And Melissa Besse Foundation CEO make?
John And Melissa Besse Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $10 annually. The organization reported $893K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
How does John And Melissa Besse Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), John And Melissa Besse 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 John And Melissa Besse Foundation located?
John And Melissa Besse Foundation is headquartered in Wells, Michigan and files with the IRS under EIN 203497950. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does John And Melissa Besse Foundation have?
John And Melissa Besse 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 $893K in total revenue.
Is the John And Melissa Besse Foundation financially stable?
Yes, the foundation is financially stable, consistently holding over $9 million in assets (e.g., $10,785,387 in 202312) and maintaining extremely low liabilities, often reported as $1.
Does the foundation pay its officers?
No, the foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available IRS 990 filings, indicating no salaries are paid to its executives.
How does the foundation's spending compare to its revenue?
The foundation's spending fluctuates relative to its revenue. In some years, like 202312, revenue ($499,424) exceeded expenses ($342,895), while in others, such as 201512, expenses ($1,307,704) significantly surpassed revenue ($382,332), suggesting it draws from its asset base for distributions.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for John And Melissa Besse Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), John And Melissa Besse Foundation's revenue has declined by 64.7%, moving from $1.4M to $499K. Total assets increased by 185.8% over the same period, from $3.8M to $10.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 66.1%, from $206K to $343K. In its most recent filing year (2023), John And Melissa Besse Foundation reported a surplus of $157K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $10.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $10.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $499K | $343K | $10.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $335K | $55K | $9.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $741K | $192K | $11.5M | $1 | — | — |
| 2020 | $316K | $229K | $10.1M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $472K | $662K | $8.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $382K | $1.3M | $9.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $597K | $553K | $10.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $9.6M | $3.0M | $10.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $456K | $192K | $4.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.4M | $206K | $3.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $499K, expenses of $343K, and assets of $10.8M (revenue +49.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $335K, expenses of $55K, and assets of $9.4M (revenue -54.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $741K, expenses of $192K, and assets of $11.5M (revenue +134.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $316K, expenses of $229K, and assets of $10.1M (revenue -33.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $472K, expenses of $662K, and assets of $8.9M (revenue +23.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $382K, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $9.8M (revenue -36.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $597K, expenses of $553K, and assets of $10.7M (revenue -93.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $9.6M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $10.7M (revenue +2005.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $456K, expenses of $192K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue -67.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $206K, and assets of $3.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for John And Melissa Besse Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for John And Melissa Besse 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.