Living Goods
Living Goods maintains strong assets despite fluctuating revenue and recent deficit spending, with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 205010527 · Oakland, CA · NTEE: Q30 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Living Goods Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Living Goods directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Living Goods
Living Goods (EIN: 205010527) is a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, CA, classified under NTEE code Q30. The organization reported total revenue of $23.8M and total assets of $35.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Living Goods's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Living Goods with a Mission Score of 90 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: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Living Goods allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Living Goods consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all provided IRS 990 filings, indicating that no portion of its expenses is allocated to executive salaries, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with recent revenues up to $42.7 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 Living Goods's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility (e.g., $42.7M in 2022 to $17.5M in 2023)
- Expenses exceeding revenue in the most recent filing period (202312: $23.7M expenses vs. $17.5M revenue)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Living Goods:
- Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in leadership compensation.
- Strong asset base ($35,680,143 latest) provides financial stability.
- Healthy asset-to-liability ratio across all periods.
- Long and consistent IRS 990 filing history demonstrates transparency and accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions about Living Goods
Is Living Goods a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Living Goods (EIN: 205010527) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Living Goods spend its money?
Living Goods directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Living Goods tax-deductible?
Living Goods is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205010527). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Living Goods a good charity?
Based on the provided data, Living Goods appears to be a good charity. It demonstrates strong program spending, maintains a healthy asset base, and exhibits exceptional transparency by reporting 0% officer compensation across all filings. While recent expenses have exceeded revenue, its overall financial health and commitment to its mission are positive indicators.
How does Living Goods manage its finances given the 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that Living Goods either has all its key personnel compensated through other means not classified as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or it operates with a unique compensation structure where leadership roles are filled by volunteers or through a different organizational entity. This is a significant point of distinction and implies a very lean administrative overhead at the top level.
What caused the significant revenue drop from $42.7M in 2022 to $17.5M in 2023?
The substantial decrease in revenue from $42,704,688 in 2022 to $17,489,687 in 2023 could be due to several factors, such as the completion of a large grant, a change in funding cycles, or a shift in donor priorities. While not inherently a red flag if managed well, it's a significant fluctuation that would typically warrant further investigation into the organization's funding strategy.
Is the recent deficit spending in 2023 a concern for Living Goods?
In 2023, Living Goods reported expenses of $23,722,146 against revenues of $17,489,687, resulting in a deficit. While a single year of deficit spending is not necessarily critical, especially for an organization with $38,143,737 in assets, a sustained trend of expenses exceeding revenue could impact long-term financial stability. It's important to monitor future filings to see if this trend continues or if it was a planned strategic expenditure.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Living Goods showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), Living Goods's revenue has grown by 488.3%, moving from $3.0M to $17.5M. Total assets increased by 1316.9% over the same period, from $2.7M to $38.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 1378.5%, from $1.6M to $23.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Living Goods reported a deficit of $6.2M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.2M in liabilities against $38.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.1%), resulting in net assets of $37.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $17.5M | $23.7M | $38.1M | $1.2M | — | — |
| 2022 | $42.7M | $24.1M | $44.9M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $27.4M | $26.1M | $25.3M | $704K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $28.0M | $20.9M | $17.4M | $759K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $21.3M | $20.4M | $10.4M | $815K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $15.0M | $13.5M | $10.1M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $7.5M | $9.6M | $8.2M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $13.2M | $6.5M | $9.4M | $83K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.7M | $3.9M | $2.7M | $59K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.1M | $3.5M | $4.0M | $242K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.7M | $2.4M | $4.5M | $322K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.1M | $1.9M | $4.1M | $178K | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $3.0M | $1.6M | $2.7M | $50K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $17.5M, expenses of $23.7M, and assets of $38.1M (revenue -59.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $42.7M, expenses of $24.1M, and assets of $44.9M (revenue +55.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $27.4M, expenses of $26.1M, and assets of $25.3M (revenue -2.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $28.0M, expenses of $20.9M, and assets of $17.4M (revenue +31.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $21.3M, expenses of $20.4M, and assets of $10.4M (revenue +42.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $15.0M, expenses of $13.5M, and assets of $10.1M (revenue +100.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $7.5M, expenses of $9.6M, and assets of $8.2M (revenue -43.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $13.2M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $9.4M (revenue +388.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $2.7M (revenue -13.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +16.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $4.5M (revenue -15.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $4.1M (revenue +5.8% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $2.7M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Living Goods 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.