Richard Avedon Foundation
Richard Avedon Foundation maintains strong assets despite fluctuating revenues and zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 201275443 · New York, NY · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $5.6M |
| Total Expenses | $2.3M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $51 |
| Net Assets | $45.5M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Richard Avedon Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Richard Avedon Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Richard Avedon Foundation
Richard Avedon Foundation (EIN: 201275443) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $5.6M and total assets of $51.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Richard Avedon Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Richard Avedon Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -19.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $529K |
| Total Expenses | $2.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,732,899 |
| Total Assets | $47.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.6M |
| Net Assets | $45.5M |
| Operating Margin | -327.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 250.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Richard Avedon Foundation reported a deficit of $1.7M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 250.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.5% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Richard Avedon Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -19.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -69.1% | -6.3% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | -78.9% | +20.1% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | +134.5% | -16.5% | +14.5% |
| 2020 | -38.9% | -3.9% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | +20.0% | -51.0% | +6.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
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 Richard Avedon 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: 5%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Richard Avedon Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. With 90% 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 $1.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Richard Avedon Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all ten available IRS 990 filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with over $51 million in 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.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Richard Avedon Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility (e.g., $8.1M in 2021 to $0.5M in 2023) could indicate unpredictable funding sources.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown in summary data makes it difficult to fully assess program efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Richard Avedon Foundation:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in leadership costs.
- Strong and growing asset base ($51.3 million in 2023), providing financial stability.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), demonstrating commitment to transparency.
- Expenses generally well-controlled relative to assets and historical revenue levels.
Frequently Asked Questions about Richard Avedon Foundation
Is Richard Avedon Foundation a legitimate charity?
Richard Avedon Foundation (EIN: 201275443) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $5.6M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Richard Avedon Foundation spend its money?
Richard Avedon Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Richard Avedon Foundation tax-deductible?
Richard Avedon Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201275443). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Richard Avedon Foundation CEO make?
Richard Avedon Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $51 annually. The organization reported $5.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Richard Avedon Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Richard Avedon Foundation directs 90% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Richard Avedon Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Richard Avedon Foundation is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Richard Avedon Foundation located?
Richard Avedon Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 201275443. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Richard Avedon Foundation have?
Richard Avedon Foundation 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 $5.6M in total revenue.
How does the Richard Avedon Foundation sustain its operations without officer compensation?
The filings consistently show 0% officer compensation, suggesting that leadership may be voluntary or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation, or that the foundation's operational model relies heavily on non-salaried roles or external contractors for management.
What caused the significant revenue fluctuation from $8.1 million in 2021 to $0.5 million in 2023?
The provided data does not specify the exact reasons for these fluctuations, but for an arts foundation, such swings could be attributed to irregular large donations, significant art sales in certain years, or varying investment returns.
What is the primary source of the foundation's substantial asset growth?
The assets have grown from $33.1 million in 2011 to $51.3 million in 2023. This growth likely stems from a combination of investment returns on its endowment, appreciation of its art collection, and periods where revenue significantly exceeded expenses, such as in 2021 when revenue was $8.1 million against expenses of $2.0 million.
How does the foundation allocate its expenses given the absence of officer compensation?
Without detailed expense breakdowns, it's difficult to pinpoint exact allocations. However, with no officer compensation, a larger proportion of expenses would likely go towards program services (e.g., preservation, exhibitions, grants), administrative overhead (e.g., facility costs, legal, accounting), and potentially fundraising activities.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Richard Avedon Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Richard Avedon Foundation's revenue has declined by 92.6%, moving from $7.2M to $529K. Total assets increased by 42.2% over the same period, from $33.2M to $47.2M. Total functional expenses fell by 33.7%, from $3.4M to $2.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Richard Avedon Foundation reported a deficit of $1.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.6M in liabilities against $47.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.5%), resulting in net assets of $45.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $529K | $2.3M | $47.2M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $1.7M | $2.4M | $47.3M | $41K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $8.1M | $2.0M | $48.0M | $35K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $3.5M | $2.4M | $41.9M | $67K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $5.7M | $2.5M | $40.8M | $35K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.7M | $5.1M | $38.4M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.7M | $2.9M | $36.8M | $38K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $6.3M | $2.7M | $38.1M | $38K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.0M | $2.9M | $34.4M | $36K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $7.2M | $3.4M | $33.2M | $-6,754 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $529K, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $47.2M (revenue -69.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $47.3M (revenue -78.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $8.1M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $48.0M (revenue +134.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $41.9M (revenue -38.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $40.8M (revenue +20.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $38.4M (revenue +184.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $36.8M (revenue -73.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $6.3M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $38.1M (revenue +55.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $34.4M (revenue -44.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $7.2M, expenses of $3.4M, and assets of $33.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Richard Avedon Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Richard Avedon 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.