Mozilla Foundation
Mozilla Foundation shows strong financial growth and asset accumulation with no officer compensation reported on 990s.
EIN: 200097189 · San Francisco, CA · NTEE: U40 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Mozilla Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Mozilla Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Mozilla Foundation
Mozilla Foundation (EIN: 200097189) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, CA, classified under NTEE code U40. The organization reported total revenue of $37.2M and total assets of $123.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Mozilla Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Mozilla Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 26.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $64.7M |
| Total Expenses | $39.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$24.8M |
| Total Assets | $124.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $6.2M |
| Net Assets | $118.0M |
| Operating Margin | 38.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 5.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 37.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Mozilla Foundation reported a surplus of $24.8M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 37.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 5.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Mozilla Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +30.0% | +31.5% | +29.9% |
| 2022 | +62.1% | +29.8% | +24.2% |
| 2021 | +15.7% | +28.5% | +15.1% |
| 2020 | -6.6% | -17.0% | +20.3% |
| 2019 | +3.1% | -6.0% | +19.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2100 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
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 Mozilla 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Mozilla Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% 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 surplus of $24.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 5.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% for officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and revenue. This suggests that executive compensation may be handled by a related entity, such as the Mozilla Corporation, rather than directly by the Mozilla Foundation, or that the foundation's leadership roles are entirely voluntary.
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 Mozilla Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- No officer compensation reported on 990s, which could obscure full executive compensation picture if paid by related entities.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Mozilla Foundation:
- Strong and consistent revenue growth, more than tripling from $20.5M in 2017 to $64.6M in 2023.
- Significant asset accumulation, growing from $33.4M in 2017 to $124.1M in 2023, indicating robust financial health.
- Expenses consistently well below revenue, demonstrating efficient financial management and sustainability.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, indicating a strong balance sheet and minimal financial risk.
- Extensive filing history (13 filings) provides good transparency into historical financial performance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mozilla Foundation
Is Mozilla Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Mozilla Foundation (EIN: 200097189) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Mozilla Foundation spend its money?
Mozilla Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Mozilla Foundation tax-deductible?
Mozilla Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200097189). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Mozilla Foundation a good charity?
Based on its strong financial health, consistent revenue growth (from $20.5M in 2017 to $64.6M in 2023), and significant asset accumulation ($33.4M in 2017 to $124.1M in 2023), the Mozilla Foundation appears to be a financially robust organization. Its ability to consistently operate with expenses well below revenue indicates sound financial management. The lack of reported officer compensation on the 990s is a unique aspect that warrants further investigation to understand the full compensation structure.
How does Mozilla Foundation fund its operations?
The Mozilla Foundation primarily funds its operations through diverse revenue streams, which have shown substantial growth, increasing from $20,586,446 in 2017 to $64,660,933 in 2023. The consistent surplus of revenue over expenses allows for the accumulation of assets, which reached $124,157,331 in 2023, providing a strong financial base for its mission.
What is the trend in Mozilla Foundation's assets and liabilities?
The Mozilla Foundation has demonstrated a strong upward trend in assets, growing from $33,419,850 in 2017 to $124,157,331 in 2023. Liabilities have remained relatively low and stable in comparison, ranging from $2,588,395 in 2018 to $6,199,575 in 2023, indicating a very healthy balance sheet and low financial risk.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Mozilla Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Mozilla Foundation's revenue has grown by 1535.3%, moving from $4.0M to $64.7M. Total assets increased by 374.1% over the same period, from $26.2M to $124.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 639.1%, from $5.4M to $39.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Mozilla Foundation reported a surplus of $24.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $6.2M in liabilities against $124.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 5.0%), resulting in net assets of $118.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $64.7M | $39.8M | $124.2M | $6.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $49.7M | $30.3M | $95.6M | $6.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $30.7M | $23.3M | $77.0M | $2.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $26.5M | $18.2M | $66.9M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $28.4M | $21.9M | $55.6M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $27.5M | $23.3M | $46.4M | $2.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $20.6M | $24.2M | $33.4M | $3.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $21.3M | $21.3M | $34.6M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $19.5M | $15.3M | $33.0M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $19.3M | $15.9M | $29.0M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $13.5M | $13.7M | $25.1M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $9.0M | $9.8M | $25.4M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.0M | $5.4M | $26.2M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $64.7M, expenses of $39.8M, and assets of $124.2M (revenue +30.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $49.7M, expenses of $30.3M, and assets of $95.6M (revenue +62.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $30.7M, expenses of $23.3M, and assets of $77.0M (revenue +15.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $26.5M, expenses of $18.2M, and assets of $66.9M (revenue -6.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $28.4M, expenses of $21.9M, and assets of $55.6M (revenue +3.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $27.5M, expenses of $23.3M, and assets of $46.4M (revenue +33.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $20.6M, expenses of $24.2M, and assets of $33.4M (revenue -3.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $21.3M, expenses of $21.3M, and assets of $34.6M (revenue +9.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $19.5M, expenses of $15.3M, and assets of $33.0M (revenue +0.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $19.3M, expenses of $15.9M, and assets of $29.0M (revenue +43.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $13.5M, expenses of $13.7M, and assets of $25.1M (revenue +49.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $9.0M, expenses of $9.8M, and assets of $25.4M (revenue +128.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $26.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Mozilla Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Mozilla 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.