Skoll Foundation
Skoll Foundation consistently directs over 90% of expenses to programs, maintaining substantial assets despite fluctuating annual revenues.
EIN: 113659133 · San Francisco, CA · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Skoll Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Skoll Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Skoll Foundation
Skoll Foundation (EIN: 113659133) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, CA, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $124.3M and total assets of $846.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Skoll Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Skoll Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 23 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $35.3M |
| Total Expenses | $72.9M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-37,566,369 |
| Total Assets | $807.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $51.5M |
| Net Assets | $755.6M |
| Operating Margin | -106.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 6.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 132.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Skoll Foundation reported a deficit of $37.6M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 132.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 6.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Skoll Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -34.4% | -54.2% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | -50.5% | +4.4% | -24.2% |
| 2021 | -71.4% | +6.1% | -11.1% |
| 2020 | +853.5% | +240.6% | +77.7% |
| 2019 | -8.4% | +6.2% | +11.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2003 |
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 Skoll Foundation 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: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Skoll Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. 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 deficit of $37.6M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 6.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization of this size and asset base ($807M in 2023), suggesting that executive compensation may be reported under different categories or that officers are uncompensated, which would be a significant strength in terms of resource allocation.
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 Skoll Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low or 0% reported officer compensation across all filings, which may obscure actual executive remuneration if it's reported elsewhere or through related entities.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Skoll Foundation:
- Consistently high program spending ratio (e.g., 90% in 2023), indicating strong focus on mission.
- Substantial asset base (e.g., $807M in 2023) provides financial stability and capacity for long-term impact.
- Low fundraising expenses (e.g., 3% in 2023), reflecting efficient resource allocation for a foundation model.
- Strong financial health with assets significantly exceeding liabilities (e.g., $807M assets vs. $51.5M liabilities in 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions about Skoll Foundation
Is Skoll Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Skoll Foundation (EIN: 113659133) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Skoll Foundation spend its money?
Skoll Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Skoll Foundation tax-deductible?
Skoll Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 113659133). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the Skoll Foundation manage its significant revenue fluctuations, such as the drop from $379.6M in 2020 to $35.3M in 2023, while maintaining its programmatic spending?
As a foundation, Skoll likely relies on its substantial endowment (e.g., $807M in assets in 2023) to fund its operations and grants. Revenue fluctuations often reflect investment performance and realized gains/losses, while expenses are managed against the endowment's long-term sustainability and grantmaking strategy.
What is the nature of the 'Officer Comp=0%' reported in all filings, and how are key executives compensated?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is unusual. It could mean that officers are uncompensated, compensated through a related entity, or their compensation is categorized differently within the IRS 990, requiring a deeper dive into the full filing for clarity.
Given the NTEE code T22 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations), how does the foundation ensure its grantmaking is effective and impactful?
While the 990 data shows financial health and spending efficiency, assessing grantmaking effectiveness requires reviewing the foundation's annual reports, impact assessments, and grantee lists, which are not part of this financial data.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Skoll Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Skoll Foundation's revenue has grown by 4.7%, moving from $33.7M to $35.3M. Total assets increased by 70.9% over the same period, from $472.3M to $807.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 125.2%, from $32.4M to $72.9M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Skoll Foundation reported a deficit of $37.6M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $51.5M in liabilities against $807.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 6.4%), resulting in net assets of $755.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $35.3M | $72.9M | $807.1M | $51.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $53.8M | $159.3M | $785.7M | $68.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $108.6M | $152.6M | $1.0B | $53.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $379.7M | $143.8M | $1.2B | $28.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $39.8M | $42.2M | $656.4M | $18.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $43.4M | $39.8M | $587.0M | $19.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $46.4M | $56.0M | $604.4M | $23.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $43.2M | $31.8M | $568.9M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $43.1M | $30.1M | $521.0M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $33.7M | $32.4M | $472.3M | $12.8M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $35.3M, expenses of $72.9M, and assets of $807.1M (revenue -34.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $53.8M, expenses of $159.3M, and assets of $785.7M (revenue -50.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $108.6M, expenses of $152.6M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue -71.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $379.7M, expenses of $143.8M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +853.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $39.8M, expenses of $42.2M, and assets of $656.4M (revenue -8.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $43.4M, expenses of $39.8M, and assets of $587.0M (revenue -6.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $46.4M, expenses of $56.0M, and assets of $604.4M (revenue +7.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $43.2M, expenses of $31.8M, and assets of $568.9M (revenue +0.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $43.1M, expenses of $30.1M, and assets of $521.0M (revenue +28.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $33.7M, expenses of $32.4M, and assets of $472.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Skoll Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Skoll 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.