Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation maintains strong asset base and program spending despite fluctuating revenues.
EIN: 131957792 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $9.4M |
| Total Expenses | $6.3M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $6 |
| Net Assets | $69.8M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc (EIN: 131957792) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $9.4M and total assets of $69.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 71 years, with 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -17.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $3.5M |
| Total Expenses | $6.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-2,766,521 |
| Total Assets | $69.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $69.8M |
| Operating Margin | -78.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 132.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $2.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 132.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 11 years of filings (2011–2023), Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -17.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +61.7% | -11.1% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | -81.0% | +4.9% | -6.3% |
| 2021 | +1299.4% | -1.9% | +6.5% |
| 2020 | -67.1% | +27.5% | -7.7% |
| 2019 | -1.7% | +1.3% | -3.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1955 |
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 Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc 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: 8%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 2%
According to IRS 990 filings, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 8%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 2%. 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 $2.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with annual expenses often exceeding $6 million and assets nearing $70 million. This suggests either pro-bono leadership or compensation is categorized differently, impacting the transparency of leadership costs.
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 Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low or zero reported officer compensation, potentially obscuring true leadership costs.
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility, indicating reliance on market-dependent investment returns.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc:
- Strong and consistent asset base, indicating long-term financial stability (e.g., $69,794,251 in 2023).
- High percentage of expenses directed towards program services, demonstrating mission focus.
- Minimal liabilities reported across all periods, reflecting sound financial management.
- Consistent operational expenses despite revenue fluctuations, suggesting predictable grantmaking and administrative costs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc
Is Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc (EIN: 131957792) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $9.4M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc spend its money?
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 2%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131957792). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc CEO make?
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $6 annually. The organization reported $9.4M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc directs 90% to programs, 2% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc located?
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131957792.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc have?
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc has 11 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 $9.4M in total revenue.
How does the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation manage its investment portfolio to generate revenue?
The IRS 990 filings indicate significant fluctuations in revenue, suggesting reliance on investment income. Further details on investment strategies would typically be found in audited financial statements or annual reports, which are not provided here.
What specific programs or grants does the foundation support?
While the filings show substantial program spending, the 990 form itself does not detail specific grant recipients or program areas. This information would be available in the foundation's annual reports or website.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as zero?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is unusual for a foundation of this size. It could mean that officers are volunteers, compensated through a related entity, or their compensation is categorized under other expense lines, which would require deeper analysis of the full 990 forms (Part VII, Compensation of Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors) for clarity.
What caused the significant revenue spike in 2021?
The revenue spike to $11,534,597 in 2021, compared to $824,277 in 2020, likely reflects strong investment performance or a significant one-time contribution during that fiscal year.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc's revenue has declined by 90.4%, moving from $37.1M to $3.5M. Total assets decreased by 25.9% over the same period, from $94.2M to $69.8M. Total functional expenses fell by 12.2%, from $7.2M to $6.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $2.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $69.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $69.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.5M | $6.3M | $69.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $2.2M | $7.1M | $72.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $11.5M | $6.8M | $77.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $824K | $6.9M | $72.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $2.5M | $5.4M | $78.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.5M | $5.3M | $81.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $3.2M | $6.2M | $84.5M | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $423K | $798K | $87.5M | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.4M | $6.2M | $87.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.3M | $5.8M | $91.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $37.1M | $7.2M | $94.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $6.3M, and assets of $69.8M (revenue +61.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $7.1M, and assets of $72.6M (revenue -81.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $11.5M, expenses of $6.8M, and assets of $77.5M (revenue +1299.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $824K, expenses of $6.9M, and assets of $72.7M (revenue -67.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $78.8M (revenue -1.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $81.6M (revenue -19.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $84.5M (revenue +645.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $423K, expenses of $798K, and assets of $87.5M (revenue -82.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $87.9M (revenue -25.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $5.8M, and assets of $91.7M (revenue -91.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $37.1M, expenses of $7.2M, and assets of $94.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Inc 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.