Lafayette River Foundation
Lafayette River Foundation maintains substantial assets despite fluctuating revenues and occasional operating deficits.
EIN: 20729969 · Norfolk, VA · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $5.6M |
| Total Expenses | $1.1M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $14.4M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Lafayette River Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Lafayette River Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Lafayette River Foundation
Lafayette River Foundation (EIN: 20729969) is a nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, VA, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $5.6M and total assets of $14.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Lafayette River Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Lafayette River Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 3.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $858K |
| Total Expenses | $1.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-227,656 |
| Total Assets | $14.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $14.4M |
| Operating Margin | -26.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 159.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Lafayette River Foundation reported a deficit of $228K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 159.4 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), Lafayette River Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +139.3% | -2.9% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | -70.8% | +23.4% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | +160.2% | -18.3% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | -32.5% | +54.1% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | -93.6% | -21.7% | +3.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
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 Lafayette River 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Lafayette River Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% 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 $228K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is categorized differently within their financial reporting, which enhances transparency regarding direct officer salaries.
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 Lafayette River Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant revenue volatility, with annual revenue ranging from $358,438 to $10,866,863 over the past decade, making consistent financial planning challenging.
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue in recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2020), indicating reliance on reserves or prior surpluses for operations.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data prevents a precise assessment of spending efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Lafayette River Foundation:
- Maintains a very strong asset base, currently $14,527,779, providing significant financial stability.
- Consistently reports extremely low liabilities ($1 across all filings), indicating excellent financial management and minimal debt.
- Reports 0% officer compensation across all filings, suggesting high transparency regarding executive pay or a volunteer-driven leadership model.
- Long operational history with 10 filings, demonstrating sustained commitment to its mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lafayette River Foundation
Is Lafayette River Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lafayette River Foundation (EIN: 20729969) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Lafayette River Foundation spend its money?
Lafayette River Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Lafayette River Foundation tax-deductible?
Lafayette River Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20729969). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Lafayette River Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Lafayette River Foundation directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Lafayette River Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Lafayette River Foundation is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Lafayette River Foundation located?
Lafayette River Foundation is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia and files with the IRS under EIN 20729969. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Lafayette River Foundation have?
Lafayette River 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 $5.6M in total revenue.
How does Lafayette River Foundation manage to sustain operations when expenses frequently exceed revenue, as seen in 2023 ($1,085,439 expenses vs. $857,783 revenue) and 2022 ($1,117,780 expenses vs. $358,438 revenue)?
The organization likely draws upon its substantial asset base, which stood at $14,527,779 in the latest period, to cover operational deficits in years where expenses exceed revenue.
What is the nature of the 'Officer Comp=0%' reported across all filings, and how are key leadership roles compensated?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that either the top leadership positions are filled by volunteers, or compensation for these roles is classified under other expense categories, or paid through a related entity not reflected in this specific line item on the 990.
What caused the significant revenue spike in 2015 to $10,866,863, and how was this large influx of funds utilized?
The provided data does not specify the source of this revenue spike, but such a large increase could be due to a major grant, a large individual donation, or a successful capital campaign. Its utilization would likely be reflected in asset growth or specific program expenditures in that period or subsequent years.
Given the NTEE code T20 (Environmental Quality, Protection, and Beautification), what specific programs does the Lafayette River Foundation implement to achieve its mission?
While the financial data confirms the organization's existence and financial activity, the specific program details are not available in the provided IRS 990 summary. Further investigation into their website or full 990 filings would be needed.
How does the organization plan to address the volatility in its annual revenue streams to ensure long-term financial stability?
The organization's substantial asset base provides a buffer against revenue volatility. However, the specific strategies for managing and stabilizing revenue streams are not detailed in the provided financial summaries.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Lafayette River Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Lafayette River Foundation's revenue has grown by 52.7%, moving from $562K to $858K. Total assets increased by 120.8% over the same period, from $6.5M to $14.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 11.5%, from $974K to $1.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Lafayette River Foundation reported a deficit of $228K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $14.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $14.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $858K | $1.1M | $14.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $358K | $1.1M | $14.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.2M | $906K | $15.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $472K | $1.1M | $15.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $699K | $720K | $15.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $10.9M | $920K | $15.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $414K | $959K | $5.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.1M | $1.5M | $5.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $494K | $886K | $6.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $562K | $974K | $6.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $858K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $14.4M (revenue +139.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $358K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $14.6M (revenue -70.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $906K, and assets of $15.4M (revenue +160.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $472K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $15.0M (revenue -32.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $699K, expenses of $720K, and assets of $15.6M (revenue -93.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $10.9M, expenses of $920K, and assets of $15.1M (revenue +2527.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $414K, expenses of $959K, and assets of $5.1M (revenue -61.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $5.7M (revenue +115.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $494K, expenses of $886K, and assets of $6.1M (revenue -12.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $562K, expenses of $974K, and assets of $6.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Lafayette River Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Lafayette River 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.