John Sage Foundation
John Sage Foundation consistently reports minimal expenses and no officer compensation, accumulating significant assets.
EIN: 10469155 · Portland, ME · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.4M |
| Total Expenses | $131K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $3.3 |
| Net Assets | $3.4M |
| Transparency Score | 95/100 |
Is John Sage Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
John Sage Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About John Sage Foundation
John Sage Foundation (EIN: 10469155) is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. The organization reported total revenue of $2.4M and total assets of $3.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of John Sage Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
John Sage Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 34 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 36.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.6M |
| Total Expenses | $131K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$2.4M |
| Total Assets | $3.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $3.4M |
| Operating Margin | 94.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 307.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2024, John Sage Foundation reported a surplus of $2.4M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 307.3 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 (2012–2024), John Sage Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +43.2% | +21.1% | +38.5% |
| 2023 | +162.7% | +2.1% | +48.7% |
| 2022 | +333.4% | +36.8% | +54.4% |
| 2021 | +68.5% | -0.8% | +8.1% |
| 2020 | +444.0% | +33.0% | +24.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1992 |
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 Sage 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, John Sage 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 (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $2.4M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The John Sage Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries or benefits are paid to its executives, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets exceeding $3.3 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 John Sage Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- NTEE Code Unknown: Lack of NTEE code makes it difficult to categorize and compare the organization's mission and activities.
- Extremely Low Expenses Relative to Revenue: While positive for efficiency, such low expenses (e.g., $130,975 vs. $2,557,895 revenue in 202407) could indicate that the organization primarily acts as a holding entity or grantmaker rather than directly operating programs, or that significant in-kind contributions are not fully reflected in expenses.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for John Sage Foundation:
- Exceptional Financial Health: Consistently high revenues relative to expenses, leading to significant asset growth (from $557,213 in 2012 to $3,354,594 in 2024).
- Strong Asset Accumulation: Assets have grown substantially over the years, indicating effective financial management and investment.
- Minimal Liabilities: Liabilities are consistently reported as extremely low ($1 in recent years), demonstrating a very strong balance sheet.
- No Officer Compensation: The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is a significant strength, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries.
- High Spending Efficiency: The ratio of expenses to revenue is remarkably low, suggesting that a very high percentage of incoming funds are retained or used for direct mission-related activities, even without a detailed expense breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions about John Sage Foundation
Is John Sage Foundation a legitimate charity?
John Sage Foundation (EIN: 10469155) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Maine. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 95/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.4M. 2 red flags identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does John Sage Foundation spend its money?
John Sage Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to John Sage Foundation tax-deductible?
John Sage Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10469155). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the John Sage Foundation CEO make?
John Sage Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $3.3 annually. The organization reported $2.4M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of John Sage Foundation's spending goes to programs?
John Sage Foundation directs 90% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is John Sage Foundation located?
John Sage Foundation is headquartered in Portland, Maine and files with the IRS under EIN 10469155.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does John Sage Foundation have?
John Sage 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 $2.4M in total revenue.
How does the John Sage Foundation manage to operate with such low expenses relative to its revenue?
The foundation consistently reports expenses significantly lower than its revenue (e.g., $130,975 expenses vs. $2,557,895 revenue in 202407). This suggests a very lean operational model, heavy reliance on volunteers, or primarily functioning as a grant-making organization with minimal direct program delivery costs.
What are the specific programs or activities the John Sage Foundation funds or operates?
The provided IRS 990 data does not detail the specific programs or activities. The NTEE code is unknown, and without a breakdown of expenses, it's difficult to ascertain the nature of its mission-related spending.
Why does the John Sage Foundation report $0 in officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings indicates that the foundation's leadership may be entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which is a strong positive for transparency and resource allocation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for John Sage Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2024), John Sage Foundation's revenue has grown by 4010.1%, moving from $62K to $2.6M. Total assets increased by 502% over the same period, from $557K to $3.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 320.7%, from $31K to $131K. In its most recent filing year (2024), John Sage Foundation reported a surplus of $2.4M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $3.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $3.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.6M | $131K | $3.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $1.8M | $108K | $2.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $680K | $106K | $1.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $157K | $77K | $1.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $93K | $78K | $975K | $1 | — | — |
| 2016 | $17K | $59K | $783K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $419K | $48K | $825K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $90K | $40K | $631K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $65K | $40K | $581K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $62K | $31K | $557K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $131K, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +43.2% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $108K, and assets of $2.4M (revenue +162.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $680K, expenses of $106K, and assets of $1.6M (revenue +333.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $157K, expenses of $77K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +68.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $93K, expenses of $78K, and assets of $975K (revenue +444.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $17K, expenses of $59K, and assets of $783K (revenue -95.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $419K, expenses of $48K, and assets of $825K (revenue +367.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $90K, expenses of $40K, and assets of $631K (revenue +38.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $65K, expenses of $40K, and assets of $581K (revenue +3.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $62K, expenses of $31K, and assets of $557K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for John Sage Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for John Sage 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.