Sara Smith Self Foundation
Sara Smith Self Foundation maintains strong asset base with zero officer compensation and minimal liabilities.
EIN: 203631059 · Winston Salem, NC · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Sara Smith Self Foundation Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Sara Smith Self Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Sara Smith Self Foundation
Sara Smith Self Foundation (EIN: 203631059) is a nonprofit organization based in Winston Salem, NC, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $919K and total assets of $3.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Sara Smith Self Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Sara Smith Self Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 21.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $297K |
| Total Expenses | $234K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$63K |
| Total Assets | $3.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $3.2M |
| Operating Margin | 21.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 163.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Sara Smith Self Foundation reported a surplus of $63K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 163.1 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), Sara Smith Self Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -10.1% | -19.4% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | -36.7% | +5.0% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | +155.8% | +16.2% | +6.7% |
| 2020 | -11.9% | +27.7% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | +82.3% | -36.7% | +0.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
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 Sara Smith Self Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 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: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Sara Smith Self Foundation 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 surplus of $63K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers. This is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets over $3 million and suggests a volunteer-led or very lean operational model.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Sara Smith Self Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency and dedication of funds to mission.
- Strong and stable asset base, consistently over $2.9 million, providing long-term financial security.
- Minimal liabilities across all filing periods, demonstrating excellent financial management and low risk.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 10 periods, indicating strong transparency and compliance.
- Expenses generally below revenue in recent years, showing responsible financial stewardship.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sara Smith Self Foundation
Is Sara Smith Self Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Sara Smith Self Foundation (EIN: 203631059) appears legitimate. Mission Score: 95/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Sara Smith Self Foundation spend its money?
Sara Smith Self Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Sara Smith Self Foundation tax-deductible?
Sara Smith Self Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203631059). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Sara Smith Self Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided financial data, the Sara Smith Self Foundation appears to be a very good charity. It maintains a strong asset base (over $3 million), consistently reports 0% officer compensation, and has minimal liabilities, all indicating sound financial health and efficient use of funds.
How does the foundation manage its expenses?
The foundation generally manages its expenses well, with expenses often below revenue in recent years (e.g., $233,747 expenses vs. $296,636 revenue in 2023). The consistent 0% officer compensation suggests a highly efficient operational model, likely directing most funds to its mission.
What is the trend in the foundation's assets?
The foundation's assets have remained remarkably stable over the years, consistently above $2.9 million and reaching $3,387,182 in the latest period. This indicates a strong and well-managed financial base.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Sara Smith Self Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Sara Smith Self Foundation's revenue has grown by 914.7%, moving from $29K to $297K. Total assets decreased by 3.7% over the same period, from $3.3M to $3.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 77.5%, from $132K to $234K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Sara Smith Self Foundation reported a surplus of $63K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $3.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $3.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $297K | $234K | $3.2M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $330K | $290K | $3.1M | $1 | — | — |
| 2021 | $522K | $276K | $3.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $204K | $238K | $2.9M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $231K | $186K | $3.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $127K | $294K | $3.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $126K | $215K | $3.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $203K | $230K | $3.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $189K | $242K | $3.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $29K | $132K | $3.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $297K, expenses of $234K, and assets of $3.2M (revenue -10.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $330K, expenses of $290K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -36.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $522K, expenses of $276K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +155.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $204K, expenses of $238K, and assets of $2.9M (revenue -11.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $231K, expenses of $186K, and assets of $3.0M (revenue +82.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $127K, expenses of $294K, and assets of $3.0M (revenue +0.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $126K, expenses of $215K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -38.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $203K, expenses of $230K, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +7.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $189K, expenses of $242K, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +546.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $29K, expenses of $132K, and assets of $3.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Sara Smith Self Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Sara Smith Self 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.