John B Pierce Foundation
John B Pierce Foundation reports significant operational deficits in recent years despite a strong asset base and no officer compensation.
EIN: 131624063 · New Haven, CT · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is John B Pierce Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
John B Pierce Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About John B Pierce Foundation
John B Pierce Foundation (EIN: 131624063) is a nonprofit organization based in New Haven, CT. The organization reported total revenue of $517K and total assets of $14.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of John B Pierce Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
John B Pierce Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 75 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 10.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $424K |
| Total Expenses | $2.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,910,856 |
| Total Assets | $15.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $5K |
| Net Assets | $15.4M |
| Operating Margin | -450.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 78.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, John B Pierce Foundation reported a deficit of $1.9M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 78.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), John B Pierce Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -49.6% | +149.8% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | +12.0% | +212.3% | -16.5% |
| 2021 | +3.3% | +5.2% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | +94.9% | -76.5% | +16.3% |
| 2019 | -63.3% | -35.8% | +8.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1951 |
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 B Pierce Foundation with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, John B Pierce Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% 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 $1.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The John B Pierce Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no portion of its expenses is allocated to executive salaries, which is highly unusual and suggests either volunteer leadership or compensation is reported under other categories not specified.
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 John B Pierce Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant and recurring operational deficits, such as $1.9 million in 2023 and $1.5 million in 2019, indicate expenses frequently outpace revenue.
- Dramatic year-over-year fluctuations in expenses (e.g., $299,321 in 2021 to $2,335,295 in 2023) without clear explanation raise questions about financial planning and project management.
- The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization with over $14 million in assets and could indicate a lack of transparency in reporting executive remuneration or an unsustainable reliance on volunteer leadership for a large entity.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for John B Pierce Foundation:
- Strong and stable asset base, consistently above $14 million, provides financial resilience.
- Low liabilities across all reported periods indicate sound debt management.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s demonstrates a commitment to regulatory transparency.
- The absence of reported officer compensation suggests a focus on minimizing executive overhead, assuming compensation is not hidden elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions about John B Pierce Foundation
Is John B Pierce Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, John B Pierce Foundation (EIN: 131624063) some concerns. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does John B Pierce Foundation spend its money?
John B Pierce Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to John B Pierce Foundation tax-deductible?
John B Pierce Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131624063). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Why did expenses increase so dramatically from $299,321 in 2021 to $2,335,295 in 2023?
The provided data does not specify the reasons for this significant increase. It could be due to large-scale program initiatives, capital expenditures, or other operational changes not detailed in the summary.
How does the organization sustain operations with recurring deficits, such as the $1.9 million deficit in 2023?
The organization likely draws from its substantial asset base, which was $15,355,935 in 2023, to cover operational shortfalls. This strategy is sustainable in the short to medium term given the asset size, but long-term sustainability would require addressing the revenue-expense imbalance.
What are the specific program activities funded by the John B Pierce Foundation?
The provided IRS 990 data summary does not detail the specific program activities. Further investigation into the full 990 forms would be necessary to understand their programmatic focus.
Is the 0% officer compensation truly indicative of no executive pay, or is it reported under a different expense category?
While the filings explicitly state 0% officer compensation, it is unusual for an organization of this size and asset base to have no compensated leadership. It's possible compensation is categorized differently (e.g., as contractor fees or general salaries) or the leadership is entirely volunteer-based.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for John B Pierce Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), John B Pierce Foundation's revenue has grown by 230.1%, moving from $129K to $424K. Total assets increased by 1% over the same period, from $15.2M to $15.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 48.7%, from $1.6M to $2.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), John B Pierce Foundation reported a deficit of $1.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $5K in liabilities against $15.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $15.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $424K | $2.3M | $15.4M | $5K | — | — |
| 2022 | $842K | $935K | $15.8M | $12K | — | — |
| 2021 | $752K | $299K | $18.9M | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $728K | $285K | $17.6M | $7K | — | — |
| 2019 | $373K | $1.2M | $15.1M | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.0M | $1.9M | $14.0M | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $431K | $1.7M | $16.5M | $2K | — | — |
| 2016 | $652K | $1.6M | $15.4M | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.1M | $1.6M | $16.4M | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.1M | $1.5M | $17.3M | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.4M | $1.2M | $17.2M | $207K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $736K | $1.8M | $15.5M | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $129K | $1.6M | $15.2M | $6K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $424K, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $15.4M (revenue -49.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $842K, expenses of $935K, and assets of $15.8M (revenue +12.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $752K, expenses of $299K, and assets of $18.9M (revenue +3.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $728K, expenses of $285K, and assets of $17.6M (revenue +94.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $373K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $15.1M (revenue -63.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $14.0M (revenue +135.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $431K, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $16.5M (revenue -33.9% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $652K, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $15.4M (revenue -83.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $16.4M (revenue +281.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $17.3M (revenue -21.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $17.2M (revenue +84.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $736K, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $15.5M (revenue +472.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $129K, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $15.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for John B Pierce Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for John B Pierce 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.