Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc
Sherman Fairchild Foundation maintains robust assets and zero officer compensation while fluctuating revenue supports substantial grant-making.
EIN: 131951698 · Chevy Chase, MD · NTEE: T21 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $109.4M |
| Total Expenses | $53.3M |
| Program Spending | 95% |
| Net Assets | $673.6M |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Is Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc (EIN: 131951698) is a nonprofit organization based in Chevy Chase, MD, classified under NTEE code T21. The organization reported total revenue of $109.4M and total assets of $689.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 69 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 11.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $71.6M |
| Total Expenses | $53.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$18.3M |
| Total Assets | $676.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.4M |
| Net Assets | $673.6M |
| Operating Margin | 25.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 152.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $18.3M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 152.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +22.3% | -17.2% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | -61.9% | +25.0% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | +118.3% | +26.8% | +17.2% |
| 2020 | +49.0% | -3.9% | +5.2% |
| 2019 | -4.0% | +35.9% | +4.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1957 |
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 Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 92 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% 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 $18.3M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers. This is highly unusual and suggests that the foundation operates with volunteer leadership or that compensation is structured in a way not reported as officer compensation on the 990, though the former is more likely for a foundation of this type.
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 Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Revenue volatility, with significant fluctuations year-over-year (e.g., $153M in 202112 to $71M in 202312), which could impact consistent grant-making capacity if not managed by a robust endowment.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc:
- Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating highly efficient use of funds for its mission.
- Substantial and growing asset base, reaching $676,011,787 in 202312, providing long-term financial stability.
- Low liabilities, consistently under $3 million in recent years, demonstrating strong financial management.
- Consistent history of IRS 990 filings, providing transparency and accountability over a long period.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc
Is Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc (EIN: 131951698) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Maryland. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 92/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $109.4M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc spend its money?
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131951698). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 92/100 (Excellent), Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc is above average for NTEE category T21 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc located?
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland and files with the IRS under EIN 131951698. It is classified under NTEE code T21.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc have?
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc has 10 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 $109.4M in total revenue.
Is Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc. a good charity?
As a private foundation, it primarily functions as a grant-making entity rather than a direct service charity. Based on its financial health, substantial assets ($676M in 202312), and zero officer compensation, it appears to be a well-managed and efficient grant-making organization.
How does the foundation manage its expenses relative to its revenue?
The foundation generally manages its expenses well below its revenue, allowing for asset growth. For example, in 202312, expenses were $53,332,794 against revenues of $71,596,138. However, there was one year (202212) where expenses ($64,419,576) exceeded revenue ($58,536,264).
What is the trend in the foundation's assets?
The foundation's assets have shown consistent growth over the past decade, increasing from $465,837,159 in 201112 to $676,011,787 in 202312, indicating strong financial stewardship and investment performance.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 268.7%, moving from $19.4M to $71.6M. Total assets increased by 45.1% over the same period, from $465.8M to $676.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 84.6%, from $28.9M to $53.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $18.3M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $2.4M in liabilities against $676.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%), resulting in net assets of $673.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $71.6M | $53.3M | $676.0M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $58.5M | $64.4M | $714.5M | $2.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $153.8M | $51.5M | $713.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $70.4M | $40.6M | $608.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $47.3M | $42.3M | $578.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $49.2M | $31.1M | $554.1M | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $58.4M | $44.3M | $536.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $47.6M | $37.0M | $522.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $69.7M | $23.3M | $512.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $19.4M | $28.9M | $465.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $71.6M, expenses of $53.3M, and assets of $676.0M (revenue +22.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $58.5M, expenses of $64.4M, and assets of $714.5M (revenue -61.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $153.8M, expenses of $51.5M, and assets of $713.4M (revenue +118.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $70.4M, expenses of $40.6M, and assets of $608.8M (revenue +49.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $47.3M, expenses of $42.3M, and assets of $578.8M (revenue -4.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $49.2M, expenses of $31.1M, and assets of $554.1M (revenue -15.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $58.4M, expenses of $44.3M, and assets of $536.0M (revenue +22.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $47.6M, expenses of $37.0M, and assets of $522.9M (revenue -31.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $69.7M, expenses of $23.3M, and assets of $512.3M (revenue +259.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $19.4M, expenses of $28.9M, and assets of $465.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc 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.