Shelter Box Usa
Shelter Box USA shows consistent revenue growth and strong asset accumulation with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 200471604 · Santa Barbara, CA · NTEE: P80 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $13.7M |
| Total Expenses | $13.4M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $14 |
| Net Assets | $6.1M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Shelter Box Usa Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Shelter Box Usa directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Shelter Box Usa
Shelter Box Usa (EIN: 200471604) is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Barbara, CA, classified under NTEE code P80. The organization reported total revenue of $13.7M and total assets of $7.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Shelter Box Usa's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Shelter Box Usa is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 9.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $14.1M |
| Total Expenses | $13.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$738K |
| Total Assets | $6.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $162K |
| Net Assets | $6.1M |
| Operating Margin | 5.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 2.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 5.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Shelter Box Usa reported a surplus of $738K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 5.6 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 2.6% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2011–2023), Shelter Box Usa's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +3.4% | +8.9% | +15.1% |
| 2022 | +24.0% | +18.3% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | +8.3% | +12.0% | +45.2% |
| 2020 | +18.1% | +9.1% | -6.7% |
| 2019 | +40.6% | +48.3% | +49.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
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 Shelter Box Usa with a Mission Score of 90 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, Shelter Box Usa 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 surplus of $738K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 2.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Shelter Box USA reports 0% officer compensation across all provided filings, indicating that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with over $14 million in annual revenue.
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 Shelter Box Usa's IRS 990 filings:
- Zero reported officer compensation for an organization of this size could indicate compensation is reported in other categories or that leadership is entirely volunteer, which warrants further investigation for full transparency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Shelter Box Usa:
- Consistent and significant revenue growth, from $2.38M in 2014 to $14.09M in 2023.
- Strong financial health with healthy surpluses in most years (e.g., $737,659 surplus in 2023).
- Substantial growth in assets, from $1.44M in 2014 to $6.24M in 2023.
- Very low liabilities relative to assets, indicating strong financial stability (e.g., 2023 asset-to-liability ratio of 38.4:1).
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a high dedication of funds to mission or alternative compensation structures.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shelter Box Usa
Is Shelter Box Usa a legitimate charity?
Shelter Box Usa (EIN: 200471604) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in California. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $13.7M. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Shelter Box Usa spend its money?
Shelter Box Usa directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Shelter Box Usa tax-deductible?
Shelter Box Usa is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200471604). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Shelter Box Usa CEO make?
Shelter Box Usa's highest-compensated officer earns $14 annually. The organization reported $13.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Shelter Box Usa's spending goes to programs?
Shelter Box Usa directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Shelter Box Usa compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Shelter Box Usa is above average for NTEE category P80 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Shelter Box Usa located?
Shelter Box Usa is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California and files with the IRS under EIN 200471604. It is classified under NTEE code P80.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Shelter Box Usa have?
Shelter Box Usa has 14 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 $13.7M in total revenue.
Is Shelter Box USA a good charity?
Based on the provided financial data, Shelter Box USA appears to be a very good charity. They demonstrate strong financial health, consistent growth, and a commitment to directing resources towards their mission, as evidenced by their healthy surpluses and zero reported officer compensation.
How has Shelter Box USA's revenue grown over time?
Shelter Box USA has experienced significant revenue growth, increasing from $2,384,618 in 2014 to $14,089,862 in 2023, representing a nearly six-fold increase in a decade.
What is Shelter Box USA's asset-to-liability ratio?
In 2023, Shelter Box USA had assets of $6,239,074 and liabilities of $162,325, resulting in a very strong asset-to-liability ratio of approximately 38.4:1, indicating excellent financial stability.
Does Shelter Box USA pay its officers?
According to the provided IRS 990 data, Shelter Box USA consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting that officers are not compensated through traditional salary structures reported in this section.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Shelter Box Usa showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Shelter Box Usa's revenue has grown by 193.2%, moving from $4.8M to $14.1M. Total assets increased by 271.2% over the same period, from $1.7M to $6.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 233.2%, from $4.0M to $13.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Shelter Box Usa reported a surplus of $738K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $162K in liabilities against $6.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 2.6%), resulting in net assets of $6.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $14.1M | $13.4M | $6.2M | $162K | — | — |
| 2022 | $13.6M | $12.3M | $5.4M | $83K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $11.0M | $10.4M | $5.4M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $10.1M | $9.3M | $3.7M | $389K | — | — |
| 2019 | $8.6M | $8.5M | $4.0M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $6.1M | $5.7M | $2.7M | $336K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $5.5M | $5.5M | $2.1M | $126K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $3.9M | $4.2M | $2.3M | $358K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $5.3M | $4.5M | $2.2M | $24K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.4M | $2.7M | $1.4M | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $4.3M | $3.3M | $1.8M | $14K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $731K | $23K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.0M | $2.8M | $913K | $31K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.8M | $4.0M | $1.7M | $23K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $14.1M, expenses of $13.4M, and assets of $6.2M (revenue +3.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $13.6M, expenses of $12.3M, and assets of $5.4M (revenue +24.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $11.0M, expenses of $10.4M, and assets of $5.4M (revenue +8.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $9.3M, and assets of $3.7M (revenue +18.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $8.6M, expenses of $8.5M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +40.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $6.1M, expenses of $5.7M, and assets of $2.7M (revenue +10.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $5.5M, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +41.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $2.3M (revenue -25.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $5.3M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $2.2M (revenue +120.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $1.4M (revenue -44.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $1.8M (revenue +310.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $731K (revenue -47.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $913K (revenue -58.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $1.7M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Shelter Box Usa:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Shelter Box Usa 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.