National Football League
NFL's 501(c)(6) status shows consistent negative net assets and no reported officer compensation on these filings.
EIN: 131922622 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Expenses | $307.9M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $-741,665,735 |
| Transparency Score | 40/100 |
Is National Football League Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
National Football League directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About National Football League
National Football League (EIN: 131922622) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $0 and total assets of $0 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of National Football League's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
National Football League is a major nonprofit, with 4 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2014). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 16.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2014)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $294.5M |
| Total Expenses | $307.9M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-13,448,239 |
| Total Assets | $727.7M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.5B |
| Net Assets | $-741,665,735 |
| Operating Margin | -4.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 201.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 28.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2014, National Football League reported a deficit of $13.4M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 28.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 201.9% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 4 years of filings (2011–2014), National Football League's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | -9.9% | -3.1% | -7.7% |
| 2013 | +28.0% | -4.5% | -4.2% |
| 2012 | +38.5% | +40.8% | -5.7% |
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates National Football League with a Mission Score of 40 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, National Football League allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2014)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $13.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 201.9%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings for the National Football League consistently report 0% officer compensation. This is highly unusual for an organization with hundreds of millions in revenue and expenses, suggesting that executive compensation is either paid by member organizations or through other entities not reflected in these specific 501(c)(6) filings.
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 National Football League's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent negative net assets (liabilities exceeding assets) across all reported periods, e.g., $1,469,402,401 in liabilities vs. $727,736,666 in assets in 2014.
- 0% reported officer compensation despite hundreds of millions in revenue and expenses, indicating a lack of transparency regarding executive pay within these specific filings.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for National Football League:
- Significant revenue generation, peaking at $326,882,787 in 2013.
- Substantial asset base, reaching $872,947,229 in 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions about National Football League
Is National Football League a legitimate charity?
National Football League (EIN: 131922622) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 40/100. It has 4 years of IRS 990 filings on record. 2 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does National Football League spend its money?
National Football League directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to National Football League tax-deductible?
National Football League is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131922622). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of National Football League's spending goes to programs?
National Football League directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is National Football League located?
National Football League is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131922622.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does National Football League have?
National Football League has 4 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. Additional filing years may become available as the IRS releases new data.
Is the NFL a charity?
No, the National Football League operated as a 501(c)(6) business league during these periods, not a public charity (501(c)(3)). Its purpose is to promote the common business interests of its members (the teams).
Why does the NFL have negative net assets?
The NFL consistently reported liabilities exceeding assets, for example, $1,469,402,401 in liabilities against $727,736,666 in assets in 2014. This financial structure, with significant debt, is not uncommon for large business entities or leagues that may finance operations or investments through borrowing.
Where is executive compensation reported?
The provided IRS 990 filings show 0% officer compensation. This suggests that executive compensation for the NFL's leadership was likely paid through other entities, such as the individual teams or related for-profit ventures, and not directly reported on these specific 501(c)(6) forms.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for National Football League showing financial trends over 4 years of public records:
Over 4 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2014), National Football League's revenue has grown by 59.8%, moving from $184.3M to $294.5M. Total assets decreased by 16.6% over the same period, from $872.9M to $727.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 30.2%, from $236.5M to $307.9M. In its most recent filing year (2014), National Football League reported a deficit of $13.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.5B in liabilities against $727.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 201.9%), resulting in net assets of $-741,665,735.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $294.5M | $307.9M | $727.7M | $1.5B | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $326.9M | $317.9M | $788.1M | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $255.3M | $333.0M | $822.8M | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $184.3M | $236.5M | $872.9M | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2014: Revenue of $294.5M, expenses of $307.9M, and assets of $727.7M (revenue -9.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $326.9M, expenses of $317.9M, and assets of $788.1M (revenue +28.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $255.3M, expenses of $333.0M, and assets of $822.8M (revenue +38.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $184.3M, expenses of $236.5M, and assets of $872.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for National Football League:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for National Football League 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.