Metlife Foundation
Metlife Foundation consistently allocates its resources to philanthropic programs with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 132878224 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $295.3M |
| Total Expenses | $37.7M |
| Program Spending | 95% |
| Net Assets | $117.1M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Metlife Foundation Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Metlife Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Metlife Foundation
Metlife Foundation (EIN: 132878224) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $295.3M and total assets of $106.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Metlife Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Metlife Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 40 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -5.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $27.9M |
| Total Expenses | $37.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-9,771,733 |
| Total Assets | $127.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $10.0M |
| Net Assets | $117.1M |
| Operating Margin | -35.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 7.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 40.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Metlife Foundation reported a deficit of $9.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 40.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 7.9% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Metlife Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -28.3% | -1.8% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | -43.0% | +27.6% | -23.4% |
| 2021 | +157.8% | -25.1% | +50.3% |
| 2020 | -44.2% | -3.1% | -12.0% |
| 2019 | -14.9% | -7.4% | -36.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1986 |
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 Metlife Foundation 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Metlife Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% 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 $9.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 7.9%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Metlife Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that executive salaries are either covered by the parent MetLife corporation or are not a direct expense of the foundation, which is a strong positive for financial efficiency.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Metlife Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating high efficiency in executive pay.
- Substantial and actively managed assets, demonstrating long-term financial capacity for grant-making.
- Consistent philanthropic spending, with expenses ranging from $30M to $44M annually over the past decade, indicating active program engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Metlife Foundation
Is Metlife Foundation a legitimate charity?
Metlife Foundation (EIN: 132878224) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $295.3M. No red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Metlife Foundation spend its money?
Metlife Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Metlife Foundation tax-deductible?
Metlife Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 132878224). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Where is Metlife Foundation located?
Metlife Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 132878224.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Metlife Foundation have?
Metlife 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 $295.3M in total revenue.
Is Metlife Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided data, Metlife Foundation appears to be a good charity. It consistently reports 0% officer compensation, suggesting high efficiency in executive pay, and as a grant-making foundation, its expenses are primarily directed towards its mission.
How has Metlife Foundation's financial health changed over time?
Metlife Foundation's financial health has shown fluctuations in revenue and assets. For example, assets peaked at $196,282,331 in 2015 and were $127,111,548 in 2023. Revenue also varied significantly, from $68,248,126 in 2021 to $27,890,465 in 2023, indicating active management of its endowment and grant-making activities.
What is the trend in Metlife Foundation's expenses?
Metlife Foundation's expenses have generally remained substantial, ranging from a low of $30,064,857 in 2021 to a high of $44,715,745 in 2015, and $37,662,198 in the latest 2023 filing. This indicates a consistent level of philanthropic activity.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Metlife Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Metlife Foundation's revenue has declined by 50.1%, moving from $55.9M to $27.9M. Total assets decreased by 9.2% over the same period, from $140.0M to $127.1M. Total functional expenses fell by 8.2%, from $41.0M to $37.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Metlife Foundation reported a deficit of $9.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $10.0M in liabilities against $127.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 7.9%), resulting in net assets of $117.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $27.9M | $37.7M | $127.1M | $10.0M | — | — |
| 2022 | $38.9M | $38.4M | $126.9M | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $68.2M | $30.1M | $165.6M | $18.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $26.5M | $40.1M | $110.2M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $47.5M | $41.4M | $125.2M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $55.8M | $44.7M | $196.3M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $54.0M | $41.9M | $195.7M | $2.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $53.5M | $43.5M | $179.0M | $5.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $52.4M | $41.8M | $166.3M | $9.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $55.9M | $41.0M | $140.0M | $424K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $27.9M, expenses of $37.7M, and assets of $127.1M (revenue -28.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $38.9M, expenses of $38.4M, and assets of $126.9M (revenue -43.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $68.2M, expenses of $30.1M, and assets of $165.6M (revenue +157.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $26.5M, expenses of $40.1M, and assets of $110.2M (revenue -44.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $47.5M, expenses of $41.4M, and assets of $125.2M (revenue -14.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $55.8M, expenses of $44.7M, and assets of $196.3M (revenue +3.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $54.0M, expenses of $41.9M, and assets of $195.7M (revenue +1.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $53.5M, expenses of $43.5M, and assets of $179.0M (revenue +2.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $52.4M, expenses of $41.8M, and assets of $166.3M (revenue -6.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $55.9M, expenses of $41.0M, and assets of $140.0M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Metlife Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Metlife 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.