Pivotal Foundation
Pivotal Foundation shows substantial asset growth and zero officer compensation, with revenue significantly exceeding expenses in recent years.
EIN: 203959093 · Phoenix, AZ · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Pivotal Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Pivotal Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Pivotal Foundation
Pivotal Foundation (EIN: 203959093) is a nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, AZ, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $14.1M and total assets of $92.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Pivotal Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Pivotal Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 68.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $24.8M |
| Total Expenses | $2.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$22.1M |
| Total Assets | $81.7M |
| Total Liabilities | $5K |
| Net Assets | $81.7M |
| Operating Margin | 89.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 371.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Pivotal Foundation reported a surplus of $22.1M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 371.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Pivotal Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 68.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -22.6% | +34.1% | +37.2% |
| 2022 | +33.8% | -79.0% | +102.1% |
| 2021 | +801.1% | +633.2% | +97.4% |
| 2020 | -6.2% | +6.5% | +10.2% |
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 Pivotal 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, Pivotal 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 $22.1M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Pivotal Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no executive salaries are paid, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and asset base ($92,488,285). This suggests that leadership may be entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, or that the foundation operates with minimal direct staffing.
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 Pivotal Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in summary data, hindering full efficiency assessment
- Unusually low expenses relative to revenue in recent years, potentially indicating significant asset accumulation rather than immediate program deployment (typical for foundations, but warrants deeper review of grantmaking activity)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Pivotal Foundation:
- Consistent zero officer compensation, indicating highly efficient use of funds for leadership
- Exceptional asset growth from $8.2M in 2011 to $92.4M currently, demonstrating strong financial stewardship and capacity
- Significant revenue generation, particularly in recent years, indicating strong donor support
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting a healthy balance sheet
Frequently Asked Questions about Pivotal Foundation
Is Pivotal Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Pivotal Foundation (EIN: 203959093) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Pivotal Foundation spend its money?
Pivotal Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Pivotal Foundation tax-deductible?
Pivotal Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203959093). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Pivotal Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided data, Pivotal Foundation appears to be a financially healthy organization with significant asset growth and a commitment to not paying officer compensation. Its substantial revenue and asset base suggest a strong capacity to fulfill its mission. However, without detailed program spending information, a complete assessment of its direct impact is limited.
How has Pivotal Foundation's financial health changed over time?
Pivotal Foundation has experienced remarkable financial growth. Its assets have increased from $8,285,241 in 2011 to $92,488,285 currently. Revenue has also seen significant fluctuations and overall growth, with recent years showing substantial income (e.g., $32,036,612 in 2022) far exceeding expenses, leading to considerable asset accumulation.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, indicating that its executives or officers are not compensated through traditional salaries, which is a highly efficient use of funds from a compensation perspective.
Does Pivotal Foundation spend efficiently?
While the organization consistently reports expenses significantly lower than its revenue in recent years (e.g., $2,636,920 expenses vs. $24,784,772 revenue in 2023), suggesting efficient operations in terms of not overspending, a detailed breakdown of program vs. administrative costs is needed to fully assess spending efficiency towards its mission. The zero officer compensation is a strong indicator of efficiency in that area.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Pivotal Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Pivotal Foundation's revenue has grown by 50915.3%, moving from $49K to $24.8M. Total assets increased by 885.9% over the same period, from $8.3M to $81.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 123%, from $1.2M to $2.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Pivotal Foundation reported a surplus of $22.1M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $5K in liabilities against $81.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $81.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $24.8M | $2.6M | $81.7M | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $32.0M | $2.0M | $59.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $23.9M | $9.4M | $29.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.7M | $1.3M | $14.9M | $31K | — | — |
| 2019 | $2.8M | $1.2M | $13.5M | $30K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $-13,019 | $1.3M | $4.4M | $22K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $492K | $795K | $5.7M | $39K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $400K | $1.2M | $6.0M | $350 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $20K | $1.5M | $6.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $49K | $1.2M | $8.3M | $10K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $24.8M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $81.7M (revenue -22.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $32.0M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $59.5M (revenue +33.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $23.9M, expenses of $9.4M, and assets of $29.5M (revenue +801.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $14.9M (revenue -6.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $13.5M.
- 2015: Revenue of $-13,019, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $4.4M (revenue -102.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $492K, expenses of $795K, and assets of $5.7M (revenue +22.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $400K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $6.0M (revenue +1900.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $20K, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $6.7M (revenue -58.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $49K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $8.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Pivotal Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Pivotal 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.