Simons Foundation Inc
Simons Foundation consistently spends more than annual revenue, drawing from a multi-billion dollar asset base.
EIN: 133794889 · New York, NY · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $167.6M |
| Total Expenses | $565.0M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $4 |
| Net Assets | $3.7B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Simons Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Simons Foundation Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Simons Foundation Inc
Simons Foundation Inc (EIN: 133794889) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $167.6M and total assets of $4.5B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Simons Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Simons Foundation Inc is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 31 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -5.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $124.1M |
| Total Expenses | $565.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-440,945,340 |
| Total Assets | $4.6B |
| Total Liabilities | $921.1M |
| Net Assets | $3.7B |
| Operating Margin | -355.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 20.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 97.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Simons Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $440.9M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 97.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 20.1% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2012–2023), Simons Foundation Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -66.8% | +8.0% | -6.6% |
| 2022 | +101.0% | +26.8% | -6.6% |
| 2021 | +43.5% | -23.4% | +16.6% |
| 2020 | -75.3% | +10.2% | +12.4% |
| 2019 | +132.7% | +12.0% | +52.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1995 |
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 Simons Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 85 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, Simons Foundation Inc 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 deficit of $440.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 20.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization with assets exceeding $4 billion and annual expenses over $500 million, suggesting that executive leadership may be compensated through other entities or that the foundation's structure minimizes direct officer salaries.
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 Simons Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent expenses significantly exceeding annual revenue, indicating reliance on asset drawdowns without clear explanation of sustainability strategy in summary data.
- Reported 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further scrutiny into executive compensation practices.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Simons Foundation Inc:
- Robust financial health with substantial assets, consistently over $4 billion, providing long-term stability.
- Consistent and significant spending on its mission, with expenses often exceeding $500 million annually.
- Strong transparency with a history of nine IRS 990 filings available for public review.
Frequently Asked Questions about Simons Foundation Inc
Is Simons Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Simons Foundation Inc (EIN: 133794889) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $167.6M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Simons Foundation Inc spend its money?
Simons Foundation Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Simons Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Simons Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133794889). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Simons Foundation Inc CEO make?
Simons Foundation Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $4 annually. The organization reported $167.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Simons Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
Simons Foundation Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Simons Foundation Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Simons Foundation Inc is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Simons Foundation Inc located?
Simons Foundation Inc is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 133794889. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Simons Foundation Inc have?
Simons Foundation Inc has 9 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 $167.6M in total revenue.
How does the Simons Foundation sustain operations when expenses consistently exceed revenue?
The foundation sustains operations by drawing from its substantial asset base, which has consistently been over $4 billion in recent years, as evidenced by the $565,004,000 in expenses against $124,058,660 in revenue in 2023.
What is the actual compensation structure for executive leadership, given the reported 0% officer compensation?
The reported 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual and suggests that executive compensation may be structured through related entities, deferred compensation, or that leadership serves without direct salary from the foundation itself, requiring further investigation into detailed 990 schedules.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided summary data does not detail the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses. A deeper analysis of the full IRS Form 990, particularly Part IX, would be necessary to determine these percentages.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Simons Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), Simons Foundation Inc's revenue has declined by 44.1%, moving from $221.9M to $124.1M. Total assets increased by 119.9% over the same period, from $2.1B to $4.6B. Total functional expenses rose by 120.9%, from $255.8M to $565.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Simons Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $440.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $921.1M in liabilities against $4.6B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 20.1%), resulting in net assets of $3.7B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $124.1M | $565.0M | $4.6B | $921.1M | — | — |
| 2022 | $373.4M | $523.1M | $4.9B | $898.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $185.8M | $412.7M | $5.3B | $883.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $129.5M | $538.9M | $4.5B | $973.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $523.7M | $489.0M | $4.0B | $846.7M | — | — |
| 2015 | $225.1M | $436.5M | $2.6B | $556.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $223.5M | $315.7M | $2.4B | $410.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $149.8M | $165.8M | $2.2B | $371.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $221.9M | $255.8M | $2.1B | $444.8M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $124.1M, expenses of $565.0M, and assets of $4.6B (revenue -66.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $373.4M, expenses of $523.1M, and assets of $4.9B (revenue +101.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $185.8M, expenses of $412.7M, and assets of $5.3B (revenue +43.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $129.5M, expenses of $538.9M, and assets of $4.5B (revenue -75.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $523.7M, expenses of $489.0M, and assets of $4.0B (revenue +132.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $225.1M, expenses of $436.5M, and assets of $2.6B (revenue +0.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $223.5M, expenses of $315.7M, and assets of $2.4B (revenue +49.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $149.8M, expenses of $165.8M, and assets of $2.2B (revenue -32.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $221.9M, expenses of $255.8M, and assets of $2.1B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Simons Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Simons 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.