Running Start
Running Start maintains stable finances with consistent revenue and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 208666097 · Washington, DC · NTEE: O50 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.4M |
| Total Expenses | $984K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $1,400,801 |
| Net Assets | $98K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Running Start Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Running Start directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Running Start
Running Start (EIN: 208666097) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code O50. The organization reported total revenue of $1.4M and total assets of $268K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Running Start's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Running Start is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 18 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2022). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 8.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.1M |
| Total Expenses | $984K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$92K |
| Total Assets | $138K |
| Total Liabilities | $40K |
| Net Assets | $98K |
| Operating Margin | 8.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 29.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 1.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2022, Running Start reported a surplus of $92K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 1.7 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 29.2% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2010–2022), Running Start's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -3.3% | -10.3% | -30.6% |
| 2021 | -6.6% | -14.3% | -34.1% |
| 2020 | +15.1% | +26.2% | -31.4% |
| 2019 | +19.0% | +22.8% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | -14.3% | -12.5% | -8.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2100 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2008 |
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 Running Start 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: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Running Start allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $92K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 29.2%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Running Start consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no portion of their revenue is allocated to executive salaries, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and revenue ($1,400,801 latest revenue). This suggests a volunteer-led executive structure or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, warranting further investigation for complete 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 Running Start's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided summary data, making efficiency analysis difficult.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $1M in revenue could indicate compensation is reported elsewhere or a fully volunteer executive team, which warrants further scrutiny for complete understanding.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Running Start:
- Consistent financial stability with revenues generally exceeding expenses.
- Strong transparency regarding officer compensation, consistently reporting 0%.
- Growing asset base, from $137,833 in 2022 to $268,132 currently, indicating financial health.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), demonstrating consistent compliance and reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Running Start
Is Running Start a legitimate charity?
Running Start (EIN: 208666097) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Washington DC. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.4M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Running Start spend its money?
Running Start directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Running Start tax-deductible?
Running Start is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208666097). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Running Start CEO make?
Running Start's highest-compensated officer earns $1,400,801 annually. The organization reported $1.4M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Running Start's spending goes to programs?
Running Start directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Running Start compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Running Start is above average for NTEE category O50 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Running Start located?
Running Start is headquartered in Washington, Washington DC and files with the IRS under EIN 208666097. It is classified under NTEE code O50.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Running Start have?
Running Start has 13 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 $1.4M in total revenue.
Is Running Start a good charity?
Based on the provided data, Running Start appears to be a financially stable organization with a strong commitment to transparency regarding executive compensation (reporting 0%). Their revenues generally exceed expenses, and assets are growing. However, without a detailed breakdown of program vs. administrative/fundraising expenses, a definitive assessment of 'good' is limited, though the lack of officer compensation is a positive indicator.
How does Running Start manage its executive compensation?
Running Start consistently reports 0% officer compensation in all available IRS 990 filings. This is a significant point of transparency, indicating that reported officers do not receive salaries from the organization, or their compensation is categorized differently and not disclosed as 'officer compensation'.
What is Running Start's financial trend?
Running Start has maintained a relatively stable financial trend over the past decade, with annual revenues consistently around $1 million in recent years. While there have been fluctuations, such as expenses exceeding revenue in 2020 ($1,280,041 expenses vs. $1,191,756 revenue), they have generally managed to keep expenses below or close to revenue, as seen in 2022 ($1,075,932 revenue vs. $984,327 expenses).
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Running Start showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2022), Running Start's revenue has grown by 167%, moving from $403K to $1.1M. Total assets increased by 1058.1% over the same period, from $12K to $138K. Total functional expenses rose by 132.8%, from $423K to $984K. In its most recent filing year (2022), Running Start reported a surplus of $92K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $40K in liabilities against $138K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 29.2%), resulting in net assets of $98K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $1.1M | $984K | $138K | $40K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.1M | $1.1M | $198K | $108K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.2M | $1.3M | $301K | $70K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.0M | $1.0M | $439K | $60K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $870K | $826K | $418K | $22K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.0M | $944K | $456K | $127K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $619K | $701K | $570K | $237K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $474K | $414K | $286K | $103K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $483K | $390K | $163K | $42K | — | — |
| 2013 | $503K | $445K | $88K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $423K | $421K | $20K | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $399K | $398K | $13K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $403K | $423K | $12K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2022: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $984K, and assets of $138K (revenue -3.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $198K (revenue -6.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $301K (revenue +15.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $439K (revenue +19.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $870K, expenses of $826K, and assets of $418K (revenue -14.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $944K, and assets of $456K (revenue +64.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $619K, expenses of $701K, and assets of $570K (revenue +30.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $474K, expenses of $414K, and assets of $286K (revenue -1.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $483K, expenses of $390K, and assets of $163K (revenue -4.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $503K, expenses of $445K, and assets of $88K (revenue +19.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $423K, expenses of $421K, and assets of $20K (revenue +5.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $399K, expenses of $398K, and assets of $13K (revenue -0.9% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $403K, expenses of $423K, and assets of $12K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Running Start:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Running Start 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.