Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation reports significant net loss in 2023 despite robust $6.2 billion in assets.
EIN: 131659629 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $4.7B |
| Total Expenses | $460.2M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $5.4B |
| Transparency Score | 80/100 |
Is Rockefeller Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Rockefeller Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation (EIN: 131659629) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $4.7B and total assets of $6.4B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Rockefeller Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Rockefeller Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 71 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $238.1M |
| Total Expenses | $460.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-222,043,607 |
| Total Assets | $6.2B |
| Total Liabilities | $839.5M |
| Net Assets | $5.4B |
| Operating Margin | -93.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 13.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 162.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Rockefeller Foundation reported a deficit of $222.0M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 162.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 13.5% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Rockefeller Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -29.1% | +30.5% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | -52.3% | -42.4% | -18.2% |
| 2021 | +97.8% | +114.5% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | +5.5% | +14.5% | +44.4% |
| 2019 | +90.9% | -2.5% | +18.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1280 |
| 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 Rockefeller Foundation with a Mission Score of 80 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, Rockefeller 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.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $222.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 13.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently shows 0% officer compensation across all reported periods. This is highly unusual for an organization of The Rockefeller Foundation's size and complexity, suggesting that executive compensation may be reported under different categories or not included in this specific 'Officer Comp' metric, warranting further investigation for full transparency.
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 Rockefeller Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for a large foundation and may indicate incomplete data or reporting nuances.
- Significant net loss in 2023 ($222 million difference between revenue and expenses) without immediate context on its strategic implications.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Rockefeller Foundation:
- Robust and consistently high asset base, exceeding $6 billion in recent years, indicating strong financial stability and capacity for long-term impact.
- History of substantial grantmaking capacity, as evidenced by significant expenses in relation to revenue in several periods (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2015, 2013).
- Strong asset growth over the decade, from $3.5 billion in 2011 to over $6 billion in 2023, demonstrating effective financial management of its endowment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rockefeller Foundation
Is Rockefeller Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Rockefeller Foundation (EIN: 131659629) some concerns. Mission Score: 80/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Rockefeller Foundation spend its money?
Rockefeller Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Rockefeller Foundation tax-deductible?
Rockefeller Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131659629). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Rockefeller Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Rockefeller Foundation directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Rockefeller Foundation located?
Rockefeller Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131659629.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Rockefeller Foundation have?
Rockefeller 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 $4.7B in total revenue.
How is 'Officer Comp' defined in the provided data, given the consistent 0% reported for an organization of this scale?
The consistent reporting of 0% for 'Officer Comp' across all filings for The Rockefeller Foundation is highly unusual for an organization of its size. This suggests that either the definition of 'Officer Comp' in the provided data does not capture all executive compensation, or that compensation for key executives is reported under different expense categories, or that the foundation's leadership is compensated through other means not reflected here. Further detail from the full 990 forms would be needed to understand executive compensation practices.
What is the detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided summary data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories. To accurately assess spending efficiency, a deeper dive into the full IRS 990 filings, specifically Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses, would be necessary to determine the exact percentages allocated to each area.
What caused the significant revenue fluctuation and net loss in 2023?
In 2023, The Rockefeller Foundation reported revenue of $238.15 million against expenses of $460.19 million, resulting in a substantial net loss. This could be due to a strategic decision to increase grantmaking and other programmatic spending, a downturn in investment income, or a combination of factors. Large foundations often experience fluctuations in revenue due to investment performance and may intentionally spend more than their annual revenue in certain years by drawing from their endowment to fulfill their mission.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Rockefeller Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Rockefeller Foundation's revenue has grown by 14.9%, moving from $207.3M to $238.1M. Total assets increased by 77.5% over the same period, from $3.5B to $6.2B. Total functional expenses rose by 138.5%, from $192.9M to $460.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Rockefeller Foundation reported a deficit of $222.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $839.5M in liabilities against $6.2B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 13.5%), resulting in net assets of $5.4B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $238.1M | $460.2M | $6.2B | $839.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $335.7M | $352.6M | $6.1B | $834.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $704.2M | $612.6M | $7.5B | $849.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $356.1M | $285.6M | $7.1B | $836.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $337.5M | $249.5M | $4.9B | $134.4M | — | — |
| 2015 | $176.8M | $256.0M | $4.2B | $171.2M | — | — |
| 2014 | $401.8M | $178.2M | $4.2B | $98.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $205.9M | $223.7M | $4.1B | $134.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $298.9M | $199.4M | $3.7B | $106.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $207.3M | $192.9M | $3.5B | $109.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $238.1M, expenses of $460.2M, and assets of $6.2B (revenue -29.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $335.7M, expenses of $352.6M, and assets of $6.1B (revenue -52.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $704.2M, expenses of $612.6M, and assets of $7.5B (revenue +97.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $356.1M, expenses of $285.6M, and assets of $7.1B (revenue +5.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $337.5M, expenses of $249.5M, and assets of $4.9B (revenue +90.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $176.8M, expenses of $256.0M, and assets of $4.2B (revenue -56.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $401.8M, expenses of $178.2M, and assets of $4.2B (revenue +95.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $205.9M, expenses of $223.7M, and assets of $4.1B (revenue -31.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $298.9M, expenses of $199.4M, and assets of $3.7B (revenue +44.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $207.3M, expenses of $192.9M, and assets of $3.5B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Rockefeller Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Rockefeller 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.