Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust
Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust's assets have declined by over 50% in a decade as expenses frequently outpace revenue.
EIN: 133378881 · Wilmington, DE · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust
Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust (EIN: 133378881) is a nonprofit organization based in Wilmington, DE. The organization reported total revenue of $1.5M and total assets of $4.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 39 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $446K |
| Total Expenses | $705K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-258,669 |
| Total Assets | $4.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $4.8M |
| Operating Margin | -57.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 82.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust reported a deficit of $259K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 82.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +24.1% | -5.3% | -15.3% |
| 2022 | -52.1% | +1.9% | -13.2% |
| 2021 | +169.1% | -4.6% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | -49.0% | -4.4% | -13.1% |
| 2019 | +74.0% | -55.0% | -30.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1987 |
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 Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). 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: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. 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 $259K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which suggests very low direct executive overhead.
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 Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent decline in total assets over the past decade (from $11.2M in 2014 to $4.8M in 2023).
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue, leading to operating deficits in most recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019).
- Significant liabilities reported in several years (e.g., $1.595M in 2019, $1.095M in 2020-2021) without clear explanation in the summary data.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust:
- Zero reported officer compensation, indicating low executive overhead.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating transparency in financial reporting.
- Likely high program spending ratio, typical for a private foundation primarily making grants, though specific breakdown is not provided in summary.
Frequently Asked Questions about Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust
Is Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust (EIN: 133378881) some concerns. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust spend its money?
Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust tax-deductible?
Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133378881). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What is the specific purpose of the liabilities reported, especially the $1.595 million in 2019 and $1.095 million in 2020-2021?
The provided data does not specify the nature of these liabilities. Further examination of the full 990 forms would be necessary to understand if they represent grants payable, loans, or other obligations.
How does the trust ensure its long-term sustainability given the consistent decline in assets and frequent deficits?
As a charitable trust, it may be designed to spend down its assets over time. However, without a stated spend-down plan, the consistent decline in assets and expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019) raises questions about its perpetual viability if that is the intent.
What are the specific program areas or beneficiaries of the grants made by the trust?
The provided summary data does not detail the specific program areas or recipients of the trust's grants. This information would be found in Schedule I of the full 990 filings.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust's revenue has grown by 5.1%, moving from $425K to $446K. Total assets decreased by 39.9% over the same period, from $8.0M to $4.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 5.8%, from $667K to $705K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust reported a deficit of $259K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $4.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $4.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $446K | $705K | $4.8M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $360K | $745K | $5.7M | $612K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $751K | $731K | $6.6M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $279K | $766K | $6.5M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $547K | $801K | $7.5M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $314K | $1.8M | $10.8M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $811K | $1.7M | $11.2M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $4.4M | $629K | $11.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $457K | $1.1M | $7.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $425K | $667K | $8.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $446K, expenses of $705K, and assets of $4.8M (revenue +24.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $360K, expenses of $745K, and assets of $5.7M (revenue -52.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $751K, expenses of $731K, and assets of $6.6M (revenue +169.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $279K, expenses of $766K, and assets of $6.5M (revenue -49.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $547K, expenses of $801K, and assets of $7.5M (revenue +74.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $314K, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $10.8M (revenue -61.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $811K, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $11.2M (revenue -81.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $629K, and assets of $11.2M (revenue +865.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $457K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $7.4M (revenue +7.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $425K, expenses of $667K, and assets of $8.0M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Samuel J And Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust 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.