Karlson Family Foundation
Karlson Family Foundation consistently spends more than it earns, drawing on substantial assets, with zero officer compensation.
EIN: 133762819 · Trumbull, CT · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Karlson Family Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Karlson Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Karlson Family Foundation
Karlson Family Foundation (EIN: 133762819) is a nonprofit organization based in Trumbull, CT. The organization reported total revenue of $60K and total assets of $1.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Karlson Family Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Karlson Family Foundation is a micro nonprofit that has been operating for 32 years, with 6 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2020). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -13.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $53K |
| Total Expenses | $143K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-90,281 |
| Total Assets | $1.7M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $1.7M |
| Operating Margin | -171.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 144.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2020, Karlson Family Foundation reported a deficit of $90K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 144.6 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 6 years of filings (2012–2020), Karlson Family Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -13.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -6.7% | +17.6% | -13.8% |
| 2016 | -63.6% | -7.9% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | +2.0% | +2.2% | +4.8% |
| 2014 | -7.2% | +0.4% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | -4.2% | +9.4% | +9.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1994 |
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 Karlson Family Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 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, Karlson Family 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 (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $90K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Karlson Family Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filing periods, indicating that no executive salaries are paid, which is highly efficient for a foundation of its size.
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 Karlson Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending (expenses exceeding revenue, e.g., $142,904 expenses vs. $52,623 revenue in 2020)
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Karlson Family Foundation:
- Zero officer compensation across all filing periods, indicating high efficiency in executive pay
- Substantial and stable asset base ($1,597,593 currently)
- Consistently low liabilities ($1 across all periods), indicating strong financial stability
- Consistent filing history (6 filings), demonstrating good transparency
Frequently Asked Questions about Karlson Family Foundation
Is Karlson Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Karlson Family Foundation (EIN: 133762819) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Karlson Family Foundation spend its money?
Karlson Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Karlson Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Karlson Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133762819). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the Karlson Family Foundation sustain its operations given that expenses ($142,904 in 2020) have frequently exceeded revenue ($52,623 in 2020)?
The foundation appears to be drawing down on its substantial asset base ($1,597,593 currently) or prior year surpluses to cover the difference between its expenses and revenue.
What specific programs or grants does the Karlson Family Foundation support?
The provided data does not detail specific programs or grants. Further investigation of the full IRS 990 forms would be required to understand the foundation's programmatic activities.
What is the long-term strategy for managing the foundation's assets given the consistent deficit spending?
While the foundation has a significant asset base, a sustained trend of expenses exceeding revenue could impact its long-term endowment. The foundation's strategy for managing this trend would need to be reviewed from its full financial statements.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Karlson Family Foundation showing financial trends over 6 years of public records:
Over 6 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2020), Karlson Family Foundation's revenue has declined by 69.2%, moving from $171K to $53K. Total assets decreased by 0.5% over the same period, from $1.7M to $1.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 21.5%, from $118K to $143K. In its most recent filing year (2020), Karlson Family Foundation reported a deficit of $90K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $1.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $1.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $53K | $143K | $1.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $56K | $122K | $2.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $155K | $132K | $2.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $152K | $129K | $2.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $164K | $129K | $1.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $171K | $118K | $1.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2020: Revenue of $53K, expenses of $143K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue -6.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $56K, expenses of $122K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -63.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $155K, expenses of $132K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +2.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $152K, expenses of $129K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -7.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $164K, expenses of $129K, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -4.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $171K, expenses of $118K, and assets of $1.7M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Karlson Family Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Karlson Family 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.