Pepperwood Foundation
Pepperwood Foundation maintains substantial assets despite recent operational deficits.
EIN: 10817571 · Santa Rosa, CA · NTEE: C34 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Pepperwood Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Pepperwood Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Pepperwood Foundation
Pepperwood Foundation (EIN: 10817571) is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Rosa, CA, classified under NTEE code C34. The organization reported total revenue of $4.0M and total assets of $36.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Pepperwood Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Pepperwood Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -3.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.9M |
| Total Expenses | $4.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,113,188 |
| Total Assets | $33.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $312K |
| Net Assets | $32.9M |
| Operating Margin | -38.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 100.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Pepperwood Foundation reported a deficit of $1.1M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 100.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.9% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Pepperwood Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -3.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -13.3% | +5.5% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | -50.8% | +26.4% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | -10.8% | +6.7% | +20.8% |
| 2020 | +206.7% | -12.4% | +21.1% |
| 2019 | -50.9% | +12.6% | -2.1% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
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 Pepperwood 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, Pepperwood 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 deficit of $1.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.9%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization with assets exceeding $33 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 Pepperwood Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits in recent years (e.g., 2023 expenses $3.97M vs. revenue $2.86M)
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization with over $33M in assets, which might obscure how leadership is compensated or sustained.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Pepperwood Foundation:
- Substantial and growing asset base ($33,228,180 in 2023)
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a strong commitment to mission-focused spending.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), demonstrating transparency and accountability.
- Significant revenue spikes in certain years (e.g., $7.5M in 2020, $6.7M in 2021) indicate strong fundraising capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pepperwood Foundation
Is Pepperwood Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Pepperwood Foundation (EIN: 10817571) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Pepperwood Foundation spend its money?
Pepperwood Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Pepperwood Foundation tax-deductible?
Pepperwood Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10817571). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Pepperwood Foundation a good charity?
Based on the available data, Pepperwood Foundation appears to be a good charity. It has substantial assets ($33,228,180 in 2023), consistently reports 0% officer compensation, and has a long history of filings, indicating transparency and stability.
Why are expenses sometimes higher than revenue?
The organization's expenses have exceeded revenue in several recent periods (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2019). This could be due to strategic spending from its significant asset base, investment losses, or temporary fluctuations in fundraising, but it's a trend to monitor.
How does Pepperwood Foundation fund its operations without officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that executive leadership may be entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, such as through a related entity or as general staff. This is a notable practice for an organization of its size.
What is the trend in the organization's assets?
The organization's assets have shown consistent growth over the past decade, increasing from $21,678,271 in 2014 to $33,228,180 in 2023, indicating strong financial stewardship and potentially successful investment strategies.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Pepperwood Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Pepperwood Foundation's revenue has declined by 36.1%, moving from $4.5M to $2.9M. Total assets increased by 44.9% over the same period, from $22.9M to $33.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 203.5%, from $1.3M to $4.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Pepperwood Foundation reported a deficit of $1.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $312K in liabilities against $33.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.9%), resulting in net assets of $32.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.9M | $4.0M | $33.2M | $312K | — | — |
| 2022 | $3.3M | $3.8M | $33.5M | $562K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $6.7M | $3.0M | $35.5M | $671K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $7.5M | $2.8M | $29.4M | $370K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $2.5M | $3.2M | $24.3M | $197K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $5.0M | $2.8M | $24.8M | $160K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $3.3M | $2.0M | $22.4M | $135K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.3M | $1.9M | $20.9M | $133K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.9M | $2.2M | $21.5M | $150K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.0M | $1.7M | $21.7M | $82K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $968K | $1.8M | $22.0M | $78K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.7M | $1.8M | $22.9M | $55K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.5M | $1.3M | $22.9M | $48K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $33.2M (revenue -13.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $33.5M (revenue -50.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $6.7M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $35.5M (revenue -10.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $7.5M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $29.4M (revenue +206.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $24.3M (revenue -50.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $24.8M (revenue +51.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $22.4M (revenue +154.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $20.9M (revenue -32.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $21.5M (revenue +87.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $21.7M (revenue +6.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $968K, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $22.0M (revenue -44.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $22.9M (revenue -61.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $22.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Pepperwood Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Pepperwood 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.