Playing For Change Foundation

Is Playing For Change Foundation Legit?

Some Concerns

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

Playing For Change Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Playing For Change Foundation

Playing For Change Foundation (EIN: 208568061) is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Monica, CA, classified under NTEE code Q21. The organization reported total revenue of $3.6M and total assets of $951K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Playing For Change 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 Playing For Change Foundation with a Mission Score of 90 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: 10%
• programs: 85%
• fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Playing For Change Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its officers are either uncompensated or compensated through non-officer categories, which is a strong positive for resource allocation directly to mission.

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 Playing For Change Foundation's IRS 990 filings:

• Significant liabilities relative to assets in some periods (e.g., 2022: $695,589 liabilities vs. $211,337 assets)

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Playing For Change Foundation:

• Strong revenue growth in the most recent filing period (2023 revenue: $3,986,553)
• Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds
• Significant increase in assets in 2023 ($1,270,606), improving financial reserves
• Positive net income in 2023 (Revenue $3,986,553 - Expenses $3,043,199 = $943,354 surplus)

Frequently Asked Questions about Playing For Change Foundation

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Playing For Change Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Playing For Change Foundation's revenue has grown by 487.1%, moving from $679K to $4.0M. Total assets increased by 752.9% over the same period, from $149K to $1.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 325.4%, from $715K to $3.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Playing For Change Foundation reported a surplus of $943K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $701K in liabilities against $1.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 55.1%), resulting in net assets of $570K.

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

• 2023: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +191.2% year-over-year).
• 2022: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $211K (revenue -26.8% year-over-year).
• 2021: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $1.0M (revenue +48.0% year-over-year).
• 2020: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $632K (revenue +31.7% year-over-year).
• 2019: Revenue of $960K, expenses of $887K, and assets of $273K (revenue +22.3% year-over-year).
• 2018: Revenue of $785K, expenses of $717K, and assets of $194K (revenue -19.6% year-over-year).
• 2017: Revenue of $976K, expenses of $836K, and assets of $107K (revenue +42.8% year-over-year).
• 2016: Revenue of $684K, expenses of $722K, and assets of $255K (revenue -1.5% year-over-year).
• 2015: Revenue of $695K, expenses of $740K, and assets of $149K (revenue +4.7% year-over-year).
• 2014: Revenue of $664K, expenses of $660K, and assets of $201K (revenue -1.3% year-over-year).
• 2013: Revenue of $673K, expenses of $624K, and assets of $183K (revenue -10.5% year-over-year).
• 2012: Revenue of $751K, expenses of $759K, and assets of $163K (revenue +10.6% year-over-year).
• 2011: Revenue of $679K, expenses of $715K, and assets of $149K.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Playing For Change 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.