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
Source Check Matrix
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Living Goods is mapped to EIN 205010527.
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13 stored filing years available.
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13 stored filing years available.
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85% program spend, health grade B
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| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $23.8M |
| Total Expenses | $23.7M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $42.7 |
| Net Assets | $37.0M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
Living Goods Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
Living Goods is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Living Goods in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
13 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $17.5M and expenses of $23.7M.
Revenue and Expenses
Living Goods reported $17.5M in revenue and $23.7M in expenses, a deficit of $6.2M.
Executive Compensation
Top officer compensation appears as $42.7 in the stored analysis, with context against revenue and expenses below.
Charity Score and Red Flags
90/100 mission score, 2 red flags, and 4 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
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 →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $20.2M (85%) |
Across stored filings, Living Goods shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
Decision Cockpit
One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub
| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 2 red flags identified |
| Mission spend | 85% to programs | Excellent |
| Financial durability | Grade B | 13 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Butte County Fire Safe Council | California and Category Q context |
Trust Check
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Oakland, CA nonprofitsCategory Q in California
International in California
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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.
Organization Overview
Living Goods is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 14.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $17.5M |
| Total Expenses | $23.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-6,232,459 |
| Total Assets | $38.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.2M |
| Net Assets | $37.0M |
| Operating Margin | -35.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 19.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Living Goods reported a deficit of $6.2M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 19.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2010–2023), Living Goods's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -59.0% | -1.8% | -15.1% |
| 2022 | +55.9% | -7.5% | +77.3% |
| 2021 | -2.1% | +24.7% | +45.4% |
| 2019 | +31.1% | +2.8% | +66.7% |
| 2018 | +42.3% | +51.2% | +3.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| 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 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.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $6.2M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.1%.
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?
Living Goods (EIN: 205010527) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in California. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $23.8M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Living Goods spend its money?
Living Goods directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
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.
How much does the Living Goods CEO make?
Living Goods's highest-compensated officer earns $42.7 annually. The organization reported $23.8M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Living Goods's spending goes to programs?
Living Goods directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Living Goods compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Living Goods is above average for NTEE category Q30 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Living Goods located?
Living Goods is headquartered in Oakland, California and files with the IRS under EIN 205010527. It is classified under NTEE code Q30.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Living Goods have?
Living Goods has 13 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 $23.8M in total revenue.
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.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Living Goods:
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.