National Recreation Foundation Inc
National Recreation Foundation Inc. maintains substantial assets despite recent years of expenses exceeding revenue.
EIN: 136172514 · Lake Forest, IL · NTEE: N120 · Updated: 2026-03-28
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National Recreation Foundation Inc is mapped to EIN 136172514.
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80% program spend, health grade B
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| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $16.7M |
| Total Expenses | $3.5M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $50 |
| Net Assets | $48.6M |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
National Recreation Foundation Inc Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
National Recreation Foundation Inc is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around National Recreation Foundation Inc in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
10 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $2.1M and expenses of $3.5M.
Revenue and Expenses
National Recreation Foundation Inc reported $2.1M in revenue and $3.5M in expenses, a deficit of $1.4M.
Executive Compensation
Top officer compensation appears as $50 in the stored analysis, with context against revenue and expenses below.
Charity Score and Red Flags
75/100 mission score, 3 red flags, and 4 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is National Recreation Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $2.8M (80%) |
Across stored filings, National Recreation Foundation Inc shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
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| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 3 red flags identified |
| Mission spend | 80% to programs | Excellent |
| Financial durability | Grade B | 10 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Shorefront | Illinois and Category N context |
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Lake Forest, IL nonprofitsCategory N in Illinois
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National Recreation Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About National Recreation Foundation Inc
National Recreation Foundation Inc (EIN: 136172514) is a nonprofit organization based in Lake Forest, IL, classified under NTEE code N120. The organization reported total revenue of $16.7M and total assets of $52.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of National Recreation Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
National Recreation Foundation Inc is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 61 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.1M |
| Total Expenses | $3.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,412,498 |
| Total Assets | $50.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.7M |
| Net Assets | $48.6M |
| Operating Margin | -67.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 171.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, National Recreation Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $1.4M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 171.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), National Recreation Foundation Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +14.8% | +22.4% | +9.7% |
| 2022 | -76.3% | +10.0% | -15.1% |
| 2021 | +210.0% | +14.3% | +7.4% |
| 2020 | -15.6% | -13.0% | +8.3% |
| 2019 | +47.5% | +27.8% | +14.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1965 |
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 National Recreation Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). 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, National Recreation Foundation Inc 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 deficit of $1.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no compensation was paid to officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size with over $50 million in assets and millions in annual expenses, suggesting either a volunteer leadership model or compensation is categorized differently.
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 Recreation Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending in recent years (e.g., 202312 expenses $3.5M vs. revenue $2.1M)
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization with over $50M in assets, which may obscure true executive costs or indicate an unsustainable volunteer model.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in summary data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for National Recreation Foundation Inc:
- Substantial asset base ($50,284,380 in 202312) provides financial stability and long-term capacity.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s demonstrates a commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance.
- Long operational history with 10 filings indicates established presence and experience.
- No reported officer compensation suggests a potentially lean executive structure or strong volunteer engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions about National Recreation Foundation Inc
Is National Recreation Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
National Recreation Foundation Inc (EIN: 136172514) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $16.7M. 3 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does National Recreation Foundation Inc spend its money?
National Recreation Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to National Recreation Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
National Recreation Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136172514). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the National Recreation Foundation Inc CEO make?
National Recreation Foundation Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $50 annually. The organization reported $16.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of National Recreation Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
National Recreation Foundation Inc directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does National Recreation Foundation Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), National Recreation Foundation Inc is above average for NTEE category N120 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is National Recreation Foundation Inc located?
National Recreation Foundation Inc is headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 136172514. It is classified under NTEE code N120.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does National Recreation Foundation Inc have?
National Recreation Foundation Inc 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 $16.7M in total revenue.
Why have expenses consistently exceeded revenue in recent years (e.g., $3.5M expenses vs. $2.1M revenue in 202312)?
This trend suggests the organization may be drawing down on its substantial asset base or relying on investment income not fully captured in the 'Revenue' figure provided, which is common for foundations. Further analysis of their investment returns and specific expense categories would be needed to understand the sustainability of this pattern.
How does the organization manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It could indicate a fully volunteer-led executive team, or that executive salaries are categorized under other expense lines, or paid through a related entity. This warrants further investigation into their operational model.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
Without detailed functional expense data from the full 990 forms, it's challenging to provide an exact breakdown. The provided summary data only offers total expenses. A deeper dive into the full IRS 990 would be necessary to determine these percentages accurately.
Given the substantial assets ($50M+), what is the organization's investment strategy and how does it contribute to its mission?
The large asset base suggests a significant endowment or investment portfolio. Understanding their investment strategy, returns, and how these funds are utilized to support their recreation mission is crucial for assessing long-term impact and financial health. This information would typically be found in the full 990 or annual reports.
What specific programs does the National Recreation Foundation Inc. fund or operate?
The NTEE code N120 indicates a focus on recreation and sports. To understand the direct impact, one would need to review the organization's program service accomplishments section of their IRS Form 990 or their official website to identify specific grants, initiatives, or projects they support.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for National Recreation Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), National Recreation Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 17.9%, moving from $1.8M to $2.1M. Total assets increased by 41.4% over the same period, from $35.6M to $50.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 44.9%, from $2.4M to $3.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), National Recreation Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $1.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.7M in liabilities against $50.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.3%), resulting in net assets of $48.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.1M | $3.5M | $50.3M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $1.8M | $2.9M | $45.9M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $7.8M | $2.6M | $54.0M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.5M | $2.3M | $50.3M | $2.0M | — | — |
| 2019 | $3.0M | $2.6M | $46.4M | $1.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.0M | $2.1M | $40.5M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.3M | $2.3M | $43.3M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.6M | $2.8M | $45.0M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.3M | $2.3M | $34.6M | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.8M | $2.4M | $35.6M | $2K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $50.3M (revenue +14.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $45.9M (revenue -76.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $7.8M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $54.0M (revenue +210.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $50.3M (revenue -15.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $46.4M (revenue +47.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $40.5M (revenue +52.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $43.3M (revenue -49.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $45.0M (revenue +96.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $34.6M (revenue -25.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $35.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for National Recreation Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for National Recreation Foundation Inc 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.