Shaw Festival Foundation
Shaw Festival Foundation: Modest Revenue, Consistent Program Spending
EIN: 222809351 · Buffalo, NY · NTEE: T90Z · Updated: 2026-04-04
Is Shaw Festival Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Shaw Festival Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Shaw Festival Foundation
Shaw Festival Foundation (EIN: 222809351) is a nonprofit organization based in Buffalo, NY, classified under NTEE code T90Z. The organization reported total revenue of $3.7M and total assets of $2.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Shaw Festival Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Shaw Festival Foundation with a Mission Score of 75 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: 15%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 15%
According to IRS 990 filings, Shaw Festival Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 15%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation cannot be assessed as no specific compensation figures for executives are provided in the available data.
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 Shaw Festival Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed breakdown for administrative and fundraising expenses.
- Limited information on specific programs funded or their impact.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Shaw Festival Foundation:
- Consistent program spending relative to total expenses.
- No reported lobbying activities, indicating a focus on core mission.
- Positive net assets in recent years.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shaw Festival Foundation
Is Shaw Festival Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Shaw Festival Foundation (EIN: 222809351) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Shaw Festival Foundation spend its money?
Shaw Festival Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Shaw Festival Foundation tax-deductible?
Shaw Festival Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 222809351). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What does Shaw Festival Foundation do?
Shaw Festival Foundation is a nonprofit organization in the Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking sector, located in Buffalo, New York. It is classified under NTEE code T90Z.
How much revenue does Shaw Festival Foundation have?
Shaw Festival Foundation reported total revenue of $3,697,641. Based on 15 IRS 990 filings on record.
What are Shaw Festival Foundation's total assets?
Shaw Festival Foundation holds total assets of $2,301,364 as reported in IRS 990 filings.
Where is Shaw Festival Foundation located?
Shaw Festival Foundation is based in Buffalo, New York.
What is Shaw Festival Foundation's EIN?
Shaw Festival Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 222809351. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS for tax-exempt organizations.
What type of nonprofit is Shaw Festival Foundation?
Shaw Festival Foundation is classified under NTEE code T90Z (Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking).
Is Shaw Festival Foundation a registered 501(c)(3)?
Yes, Shaw Festival Foundation is recognized as a tax-exempt organization by the IRS. EIN: 222809351.
Does Shaw Festival Foundation file IRS Form 990?
Yes, Shaw Festival Foundation has 15 IRS Form 990 filings on record. The most recent covers tax period 202312.
What was Shaw Festival Foundation's revenue in 2023?
In the 202312 filing period, Shaw Festival Foundation reported total revenue of $1,341,047, total expenses of $1,358,544, and net assets of $1,680,720.
Is Shaw Festival Foundation's revenue growing or declining?
Shaw Festival Foundation's revenue is declining. Revenue went from $2,052,299 (202212) to $1,341,047 (202312), a -34.7% change. Based on 15 filings on record.
What is Shaw Festival Foundation's most recent 990 filing?
The most recent IRS Form 990 filing for Shaw Festival Foundation covers tax period 202312. It shows revenue of $1,341,047, expenses of $1,358,544, total assets of $1,680,720, and liabilities of $532,512.
How much does Shaw Festival Foundation spend on programs vs administration?
Based on IRS 990 analysis, Shaw Festival Foundation allocates approximately 70% of expenses to program services, 15% to administrative costs, and 15% to fundraising. Program spending is moderate relative to overhead.
Is Shaw Festival Foundation a trustworthy charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 data, Shaw Festival Foundation appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100 (Good). 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted.
What are the red flags for Shaw Festival Foundation?
The following concerns were identified: Lack of detailed breakdown for administrative and fundraising expenses.. Limited information on specific programs funded or their impact.. These flags are based on automated analysis of IRS 990 public filings and should be verified independently.
What are Shaw Festival Foundation's strengths?
Positive indicators for Shaw Festival Foundation include: Consistent program spending relative to total expenses.. No reported lobbying activities, indicating a focus on core mission.. Positive net assets in recent years.. These findings are derived from AI analysis of the organization's financial filings.
How does Shaw Festival Foundation compensate executives?
Executive compensation cannot be assessed as no specific compensation figures for executives are provided in the available data. Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require disclosure of officer, director, and key employee pay.
How transparent is Shaw Festival Foundation?
• The organization consistently reports 0% lobbying costs across all available filings. • Detailed breakdowns of administrative and fundraising expenses are not readily available in the provided data, making a granular assessment challenging. • The provided data lacks specific narrative transparency reports or audited financial statements beyond the summarized figures. Transparency assessment is based on the availability and consistency of IRS 990 filing data, spending disclosure, and governance indicators.
How does the Shaw Festival Foundation ensure its program spending directly benefits its mission given the limited detail on specific programs?
While the data shows a healthy percentage of expenses allocated to programs (e.g., 70% in 2023), without specific program descriptions or impact metrics, it's difficult to ascertain the direct benefit and effectiveness of these expenditures. Further narrative reporting would be beneficial.
What is the strategy behind the fluctuation in total revenue, such as the drop from $2,052,299 in 2022 to $1,341,047 in 2023?
The provided data does not offer insights into the reasons for revenue fluctuations. A detailed financial report or annual statement would be needed to understand if these are due to changes in funding sources, economic conditions, or specific fundraising initiatives.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Shaw Festival Foundation showing financial trends over 15 years of public records:
Over 15 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), Shaw Festival Foundation's revenue has grown by 16.6%, moving from $1.1M to $1.3M. Total assets increased by 710.8% over the same period, from $207K to $1.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 31%, from $1.0M to $1.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Shaw Festival Foundation reported a deficit of $17K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $533K in liabilities against $1.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 31.7%), resulting in net assets of $1.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.3M | $1.4M | $1.7M | $533K | — | — |
| 2022 | $2.1M | $1.4M | $1.3M | $586K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.7M | $1.1M | $849K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $291K | $313K | $286K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.2M | $1.1M | $308K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.3M | $1.2M | $131K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.0M | $1.1M | $125K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.5M | $1.4M | $157K | $0 | — | — |
| 2016 | $1.0M | $1.1M | $54K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $960K | $925K | $123K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $967K | $985K | $88K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $919K | $1.1M | $107K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.2M | $1.0M | $257K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $115K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $1.1M | $1.0M | $207K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $1.7M (revenue -34.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +21.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $849K (revenue +481.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $291K, expenses of $313K, and assets of $286K (revenue -76.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $308K (revenue -1.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $131K (revenue +22.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $125K (revenue -30.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $157K (revenue +41.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $54K (revenue +7.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $960K, expenses of $925K, and assets of $123K (revenue -0.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $967K, expenses of $985K, and assets of $88K (revenue +5.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $919K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $107K (revenue -22.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $257K (revenue +8.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $115K (revenue -5.2% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $207K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Shaw Festival 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.