Morgan Creek Foundation
Morgan Creek Foundation maintains substantial assets with zero reported officer compensation despite fluctuating revenues.
EIN: 203999739 · Chapel Hill, NC · NTEE: T21 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $284K |
| Total Expenses | $234K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $4 |
| Net Assets | $3.4M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Morgan Creek Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Morgan Creek Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Morgan Creek Foundation
Morgan Creek Foundation (EIN: 203999739) is a nonprofit organization based in Chapel Hill, NC, classified under NTEE code T21. The organization reported total revenue of $284K and total assets of $4.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Morgan Creek Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Morgan Creek Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 10 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -10.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $207K |
| Total Expenses | $234K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-26,806 |
| Total Assets | $3.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $3.4M |
| Operating Margin | -13.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 173.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Morgan Creek Foundation reported a deficit of $27K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 173.6 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), Morgan Creek Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -10.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +12.6% | -5.3% | +17.5% |
| 2022 | -42.8% | -16.5% | -17.3% |
| 2021 | +55.9% | +2.7% | +6.1% |
| 2020 | -81.1% | +1.6% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | +436.0% | +3.7% | +11.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2016 |
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 Morgan Creek Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 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, Morgan Creek Foundation 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 $27K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not reflected as officer compensation, which is highly efficient for an organization of its size with assets over $4 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 Morgan Creek Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant year-to-year revenue volatility (e.g., $6,245 in 2013 vs. $1,088,407 in 2019) could indicate reliance on unpredictable funding sources.
- Consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across multiple years is unusual and might mask actual financial obligations or represent a simplified reporting practice.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Morgan Creek Foundation:
- Strong asset base ($4,208,593 latest) provides financial stability and long-term sustainability.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings indicates highly efficient use of funds at the executive level.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history demonstrates commitment to transparency and compliance.
- Low reported liabilities (often $1) suggests a conservative financial approach or minimal debt.
Frequently Asked Questions about Morgan Creek Foundation
Is Morgan Creek Foundation a legitimate charity?
Morgan Creek Foundation (EIN: 203999739) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in North Carolina. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $284K. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Morgan Creek Foundation spend its money?
Morgan Creek Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Morgan Creek Foundation tax-deductible?
Morgan Creek Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203999739). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Morgan Creek Foundation CEO make?
Morgan Creek Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $4 annually. The organization reported $284K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Morgan Creek Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Morgan Creek Foundation directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Morgan Creek Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Morgan Creek Foundation is above average for NTEE category T21 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Morgan Creek Foundation located?
Morgan Creek Foundation is headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and files with the IRS under EIN 203999739. It is classified under NTEE code T21.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Morgan Creek Foundation have?
Morgan Creek 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 $284K in total revenue.
What is the detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses, making it difficult to precisely determine the allocation of funds to programs versus overhead. Further examination of the full 990 forms would be necessary.
How does the organization manage to operate with zero reported officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation suggests that the organization's leadership may be entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is structured in a way not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990. This is a significant factor in its operational efficiency.
What is the source of the organization's substantial assets given its fluctuating revenue?
The organization's assets have consistently been in the multi-million dollar range, even during periods of lower revenue. This suggests a strong endowment, significant past contributions, or successful investment strategies that have built and maintained its financial reserves.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Morgan Creek Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Morgan Creek Foundation's revenue has declined by 74.3%, moving from $804K to $207K. Total assets decreased by 7.1% over the same period, from $3.6M to $3.4M. Total functional expenses fell by 47%, from $441K to $234K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Morgan Creek Foundation reported a deficit of $27K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $3.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $3.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $207K | $234K | $3.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $184K | $247K | $2.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $321K | $295K | $3.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $206K | $288K | $3.3M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $1.1M | $283K | $3.4M | $102 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $203K | $273K | $3.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $304K | $244K | $3.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $6K | $242K | $3.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $256K | $340K | $3.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $804K | $441K | $3.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $207K, expenses of $234K, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +12.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $184K, expenses of $247K, and assets of $2.9M (revenue -42.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $321K, expenses of $295K, and assets of $3.5M (revenue +55.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $206K, expenses of $288K, and assets of $3.3M (revenue -81.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $283K, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +436.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $203K, expenses of $273K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -33.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $304K, expenses of $244K, and assets of $3.3M (revenue +4768.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $6K, expenses of $242K, and assets of $3.3M (revenue -97.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $256K, expenses of $340K, and assets of $3.6M (revenue -68.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $804K, expenses of $441K, and assets of $3.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Morgan Creek Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Morgan Creek 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.