Karen Katen Foundation
Karen Katen Foundation faces significant financial challenges with consistent negative revenue and declining assets.
EIN: 207103490 · Westport, CT · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Karen Katen Foundation Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Karen Katen Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Karen Katen Foundation
Karen Katen Foundation (EIN: 207103490) is a nonprofit organization based in Westport, CT, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $2.8M and total assets of $3.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Karen Katen Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Karen Katen Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023).
Financial Trends
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -267.3% | +4.0% | -33.1% |
| 2021 | -82.6% | -1.9% | -11.8% |
| 2020 | -48.3% | -6.1% | -11.6% |
| 2019 | +100.5% | +170.5% | +218.9% |
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 Karen Katen Foundation with a Mission Score of 40 out of 100 (Fair). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Karen Katen Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% in all available filings, indicating that no compensation is paid to officers, which is a positive sign for resource allocation and transparency.
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 Karen Katen Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent negative revenue in recent years ($-373,598 in 2022, $-20,443 in 2023).
- Significant and continuous decline in assets from $4,282,673 in 2019 to $1,607,272 in 2023.
- Expenses consistently exceeding revenue in recent periods, indicating an unsustainable financial model.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown to assess program efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Karen Katen Foundation:
- 0% officer compensation reported across all available filings, indicating no executive pay.
- Minimal liabilities reported ($1 in recent years), suggesting good debt management.
Frequently Asked Questions about Karen Katen Foundation
Is Karen Katen Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Karen Katen Foundation (EIN: 207103490) significant concerns. Mission Score: 40/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
How does Karen Katen Foundation spend its money?
Karen Katen Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Karen Katen Foundation tax-deductible?
Karen Katen Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 207103490). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What is the cause of the negative revenue reported in 2022 and 2023?
The filings show negative revenue of $-373,598 in 2022 and $-20,443 in 2023. This could be due to investment losses, significant returns of grants, or other non-operating income/expense factors that are not detailed in the summary data.
How does the Karen Katen Foundation plan to address its declining asset base?
The foundation's assets have decreased from $4,282,673 in 2019 to $1,607,272 in 2023. This significant decline, coupled with expenses exceeding revenue, suggests a need for a clear strategy to rebuild its financial reserves and ensure long-term sustainability.
What percentage of expenses are allocated directly to program services?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories. Without this, it's difficult to assess the efficiency of spending on its core mission.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Karen Katen Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Karen Katen Foundation's revenue has declined by 103.7%, moving from $560K to $-20,443. Total assets increased by 205.5% over the same period, from $526K to $1.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 19.9%, from $500K to $599K. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $1.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $1.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $-20,443 | $599K | $1.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $-373,598 | $697K | $2.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $223K | $670K | $3.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.3M | $683K | $3.8M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $2.5M | $727K | $4.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.2M | $269K | $1.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $513K | $349K | $373K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $313K | $230K | $209K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $320K | $720K | $126K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $560K | $500K | $526K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $-20,443, expenses of $599K, and assets of $1.6M.
- 2022: Revenue of $-373,598, expenses of $697K, and assets of $2.2M (revenue -267.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $223K, expenses of $670K, and assets of $3.3M (revenue -82.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $683K, and assets of $3.8M (revenue -48.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $727K, and assets of $4.3M (revenue +100.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $269K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +141.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $513K, expenses of $349K, and assets of $373K (revenue +63.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $313K, expenses of $230K, and assets of $209K (revenue -2.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $320K, expenses of $720K, and assets of $126K (revenue -42.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $560K, expenses of $500K, and assets of $526K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Karen Katen Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Karen Katen 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.