Pershing Square Foundation
Pershing Square Foundation maintains substantial assets and reports zero officer compensation across all filings.
EIN: 208068401 · New York, NY · NTEE: S12 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Pershing Square Foundation Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Pershing Square Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Pershing Square Foundation
Pershing Square Foundation (EIN: 208068401) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code S12. The organization reported total revenue of $96.4M and total assets of $414.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Pershing Square Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Pershing Square Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Pershing Square Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers are either unpaid or compensated by an external entity, which is highly favorable for a foundation of this size ($414M assets).
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Pershing Square Foundation:
- Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency and dedication to mission.
- Maintains a very strong asset base ($414,591,902 latest), providing long-term financial stability.
- Low liabilities across most filing periods, demonstrating sound financial management.
- Significant capacity for grant-making due to substantial assets and efficient operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pershing Square Foundation
Is Pershing Square Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Pershing Square Foundation (EIN: 208068401) appears legitimate. Mission Score: 95/100. 0 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Pershing Square Foundation spend its money?
Pershing Square Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Pershing Square Foundation tax-deductible?
Pershing Square Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208068401). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the Pershing Square Foundation manage its significant revenue fluctuations?
The foundation's revenue has varied greatly, from $346M in 2021 to $22M in 2023. This is common for foundations that rely on investment income and large contributions. Its substantial asset base of over $400M helps absorb these fluctuations, ensuring long-term stability for its grant-making activities.
What is the significance of 0% officer compensation?
Reporting 0% officer compensation across all filings is a strong positive indicator. It suggests that the foundation's leadership is either volunteering their time or compensated through a related entity, allowing a greater proportion of funds to be directed towards charitable programs rather than administrative overhead.
Is the foundation financially stable given its varying expenses?
Yes, despite expenses fluctuating (e.g., $66M in 2021 vs. $28M in 2022), the foundation's assets consistently remain very high, currently at $414,591,902. This large asset base provides significant financial stability and capacity to cover operational and programmatic costs.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Pershing Square Foundation showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Pershing Square Foundation's revenue has declined by 62.5%, moving from $59.0M to $22.2M. Total assets increased by 475.9% over the same period, from $70.2M to $404.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 28.8%, from $25.5M to $32.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Pershing Square Foundation reported a deficit of $10.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $404.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $404.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $22.2M | $32.8M | $404.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $106.3M | $28.2M | $414.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $346.6M | $66.4M | $346.2M | $500K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.7M | $12.7M | $94.6M | $29.1M | — | — |
| 2020 | $21.2M | $35.4M | $94.8M | $18.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $46.3M | $15.2M | $94.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $78.1M | $34.3M | $78.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $33.0M | $35.0M | $34.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $10.0M | $32.5M | $36.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $10.1M | $21.0M | $59.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $59.0M | $25.5M | $70.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $22.2M, expenses of $32.8M, and assets of $404.1M (revenue -79.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $106.3M, expenses of $28.2M, and assets of $414.7M (revenue -69.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $346.6M, expenses of $66.4M, and assets of $346.2M (revenue +20492.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $12.7M, and assets of $94.6M (revenue -92.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $21.2M, expenses of $35.4M, and assets of $94.8M (revenue -54.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $46.3M, expenses of $15.2M, and assets of $94.4M (revenue -40.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $78.1M, expenses of $34.3M, and assets of $78.5M (revenue +136.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $33.0M, expenses of $35.0M, and assets of $34.7M (revenue +229.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $10.0M, expenses of $32.5M, and assets of $36.7M (revenue -0.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $21.0M, and assets of $59.2M (revenue -82.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $59.0M, expenses of $25.5M, and assets of $70.2M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Pershing Square 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.