Market Research Foundation
Market Research Foundation faces significant revenue decline and minimal assets after years of inconsistent financial performance.
EIN: 204155641 · Fairfax, VA · NTEE: J01 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $428K |
| Total Expenses | $642K |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $58K |
| Transparency Score | 55/100 |
Is Market Research Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Market Research Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Market Research Foundation
Market Research Foundation (EIN: 204155641) is a nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, VA, classified under NTEE code J01. The organization reported total revenue of $428K and total assets of $12K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Market Research Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Market Research Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2013–2021). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -18.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $622K |
| Total Expenses | $642K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-20,182 |
| Total Assets | $58K |
| Total Liabilities | $71 |
| Net Assets | $58K |
| Operating Margin | -3.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 1.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2021, Market Research Foundation reported a deficit of $20K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 1.1 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2013–2021), Market Research Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -18.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -0.4% | +11.5% | -22.2% |
| 2020 | +41.9% | -11.5% | +188.0% |
| 2019 | -67.3% | -43.9% | -89.1% |
| 2018 | +97.1% | +5.6% | +199.6% |
| 2017 | -85.3% | -75.9% | -84.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
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 Market Research Foundation with a Mission Score of 55 out of 100 (Fair). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Market Research Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $20K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, suggesting that the organization's leadership may be unpaid or compensated through other means not reflected as officer compensation, which is a positive for minimizing overhead in this area.
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 Market Research Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant and consistent decline in revenue since 2016 ($4.6M to $0.4M).
- Extremely low asset base ($11,880) relative to historical levels and past expenses.
- Multiple years of deficit spending (e.g., 2021, 2019, 2017, 2014) where expenses exceeded revenue.
- High volatility in annual revenue and expenses, indicating unpredictable financial planning.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Market Research Foundation:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating no direct executive salary burden.
- Long filing history (9 filings) provides some transparency into past operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Market Research Foundation
Is Market Research Foundation a legitimate charity?
Market Research Foundation (EIN: 204155641) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Virginia. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 55/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $428K. 4 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Market Research Foundation spend its money?
Market Research Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Market Research Foundation tax-deductible?
Market Research Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204155641). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Market Research Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Market Research Foundation directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Market Research Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 55/100 (Fair), Market Research Foundation is near average for NTEE category J01 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Market Research Foundation located?
Market Research Foundation is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia and files with the IRS under EIN 204155641. It is classified under NTEE code J01.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Market Research Foundation have?
Market Research Foundation has 9 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 $428K in total revenue.
Why has the Market Research Foundation's revenue declined so sharply since 2016?
The organization's revenue dropped from $4,647,600 in 2016 to $427,925 in the latest period, representing a significant decrease that warrants further investigation into funding sources and operational changes.
What is the reason for the substantial decrease in assets?
Assets have fallen from a peak of $495,922 in 2016 to $11,880 currently, indicating a potential liquidation of assets or significant operating losses that have depleted reserves.
How does the organization sustain operations with such low asset levels and declining revenue?
With current assets at $11,880 and recent periods showing expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 2021 and 2019), the long-term sustainability of operations is a key concern.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Market Research Foundation showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2013–2021), Market Research Foundation's revenue has declined by 80.9%, moving from $3.3M to $622K. Total assets decreased by 88.9% over the same period, from $521K to $58K. Total functional expenses fell by 76.5%, from $2.7M to $642K. In its most recent filing year (2021), Market Research Foundation reported a deficit of $20K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $71 in liabilities against $58K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.1%), resulting in net assets of $58K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $622K | $642K | $58K | $71 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $624K | $576K | $74K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $440K | $651K | $26K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.3M | $1.2M | $237K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $684K | $1.1M | $79K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $4.6M | $4.6M | $496K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.3M | $2.1M | $407K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.7M | $3.0M | $211K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.3M | $2.7M | $521K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2021: Revenue of $622K, expenses of $642K, and assets of $58K (revenue -0.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $624K, expenses of $576K, and assets of $74K (revenue +41.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $440K, expenses of $651K, and assets of $26K (revenue -67.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $237K (revenue +97.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $684K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $79K (revenue -85.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $496K (revenue +101.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.3M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $407K (revenue -13.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $211K (revenue -18.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $521K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Market Research Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Market Research 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.