Lighten Family Foundation
Lighten Family Foundation maintains strong asset base with zero officer compensation and recent significant revenue increase.
EIN: 208069108 · Wilmington, DE · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Lighten Family Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Lighten Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Lighten Family Foundation
Lighten Family Foundation (EIN: 208069108) is a nonprofit organization based in Wilmington, DE, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $2.6M and total assets of $4.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Lighten Family Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Lighten Family Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $345K |
| Total Expenses | $176K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$169K |
| Total Assets | $4.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $4.4M |
| Operating Margin | 49.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 299.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Lighten Family Foundation reported a surplus of $169K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 299.0 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), Lighten Family Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +156.3% | +7.4% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | -70.3% | -45.8% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | +29.4% | -26.8% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | +23.5% | -17.4% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | -51.7% | -7.8% | -12.9% |
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 Lighten Family Foundation with a Mission Score of 92 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, Lighten 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 (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $169K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the foundation is either entirely volunteer-run at the executive level or compensates its leadership through non-officer roles, which is highly efficient for a foundation of its size with assets nearing $5 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 Lighten Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant fluctuation in annual revenue, making year-over-year comparisons challenging without further context for the latest reported revenue figure.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Lighten Family Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency and dedication of resources to mission.
- Strong and growing asset base, with assets increasing from $4,089,693 in 2020 to $4,382,111 in 2023.
- Very low liabilities (consistently $1), demonstrating excellent financial health and minimal debt.
- Positive net income in most recent years (e.g., $345,259 revenue vs. $175,890 expenses in 2023), contributing to asset growth.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), indicating consistent compliance and transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lighten Family Foundation
Is Lighten Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lighten Family Foundation (EIN: 208069108) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Lighten Family Foundation spend its money?
Lighten Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Lighten Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Lighten Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208069108). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What caused the significant increase in revenue to $2,596,573 in the latest period compared to previous years?
The provided data shows the latest revenue as $2,596,573, which is substantially higher than any individual year's revenue in the filing history (e.g., $345,259 in 2023). This could indicate a large one-time donation, a significant investment gain, or a change in reporting period for the 'latest revenue' figure versus the annual filings.
How does the foundation ensure its program goals are met without paid officers?
With 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, the foundation likely relies on a dedicated volunteer board, external grant managers, or other non-officer staff to execute its mission and manage its grantmaking activities.
What are the specific program areas or beneficiaries of the grants made by the Lighten Family Foundation?
The NTEE code T20 indicates it's a Private Grantmaking Foundation, meaning it provides grants to other organizations. The provided data does not specify the particular causes or types of organizations that receive these grants.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Lighten Family Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Lighten Family Foundation's revenue has declined by 6%, moving from $367K to $345K. Total assets decreased by 8.4% over the same period, from $4.8M to $4.4M. Total functional expenses fell by 53%, from $374K to $176K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Lighten Family Foundation reported a surplus of $169K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $4.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $4.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $345K | $176K | $4.4M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $135K | $164K | $4.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $454K | $302K | $4.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $351K | $413K | $4.1M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $284K | $499K | $4.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $588K | $542K | $4.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $662K | $478K | $4.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $451K | $442K | $4.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $202K | $461K | $4.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $367K | $374K | $4.8M | $100 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $345K, expenses of $176K, and assets of $4.4M (revenue +156.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $135K, expenses of $164K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue -70.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $454K, expenses of $302K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue +29.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $351K, expenses of $413K, and assets of $4.1M (revenue +23.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $284K, expenses of $499K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue -51.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $588K, expenses of $542K, and assets of $4.8M (revenue -11.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $662K, expenses of $478K, and assets of $4.7M (revenue +46.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $451K, expenses of $442K, and assets of $4.5M (revenue +122.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $202K, expenses of $461K, and assets of $4.5M (revenue -44.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $367K, expenses of $374K, and assets of $4.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Lighten Family Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Lighten 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.