Sparrow Charitable Foundation
Sparrow Charitable Foundation consistently directs funds to programs with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 200488561 · Dallas, TX · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.6M |
| Total Expenses | $727K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $83K |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Is Sparrow Charitable Foundation Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Sparrow Charitable Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Sparrow Charitable Foundation
Sparrow Charitable Foundation (EIN: 200488561) is a nonprofit organization based in Dallas, TX, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $1.6M and total assets of $100K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Sparrow Charitable Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Sparrow Charitable Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -10.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $800K |
| Total Expenses | $727K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$73K |
| Total Assets | $83K |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $83K |
| Operating Margin | 9.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 1.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Sparrow Charitable Foundation reported a surplus of $73K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 1.4 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Sparrow Charitable Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -10.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -5.9% | -27.3% | +716.2% |
| 2022 | -57.5% | -46.4% | -93.6% |
| 2021 | +299.8% | +281.3% | +541.5% |
| 2020 | -72.2% | -72.8% | +79.9% |
| 2019 | -27.9% | -27.9% | +45.0% |
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 Sparrow Charitable 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: 5%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Sparrow Charitable Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. 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 surplus of $73K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officer salaries are paid, which is highly favorable for donor confidence and suggests a volunteer-led or very lean operational structure.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Sparrow Charitable Foundation:
- Consistent zero officer compensation across all filings, indicating high financial integrity and dedication to mission.
- Expenses generally align with revenue, demonstrating responsible financial management and avoiding significant deficits (e.g., 2023 revenue $800,405 vs. expenses $727,227).
- Low liabilities ($1 or $0 in all reported periods) suggest strong financial health and minimal debt.
- Active use of funds rather than accumulation, as evidenced by fluctuating asset levels, implying efficient distribution of charitable resources.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sparrow Charitable Foundation
Is Sparrow Charitable Foundation a legitimate charity?
Sparrow Charitable Foundation (EIN: 200488561) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Texas. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 92/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.6M. No red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Sparrow Charitable Foundation spend its money?
Sparrow Charitable Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Sparrow Charitable Foundation tax-deductible?
Sparrow Charitable Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200488561). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Sparrow Charitable Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Sparrow Charitable Foundation directs 90% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Sparrow Charitable Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 92/100 (Excellent), Sparrow Charitable Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Sparrow Charitable Foundation located?
Sparrow Charitable Foundation is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and files with the IRS under EIN 200488561. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Sparrow Charitable Foundation have?
Sparrow Charitable Foundation 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 $1.6M in total revenue.
What are the specific program activities funded by Sparrow Charitable Foundation?
The provided IRS 990 data does not detail specific program activities. Further investigation into their public disclosures or website would be necessary to understand their programmatic focus beyond the NTEE code T22 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations).
How does Sparrow Charitable Foundation manage its administrative and fundraising costs?
While the data indicates overall expenses, a detailed breakdown of administrative and fundraising costs is not available in this summary. The consistent zero officer compensation suggests these costs are kept very low or are covered by volunteers/donations outside of the primary revenue stream.
Why do assets fluctuate significantly year-to-year?
The fluctuation in assets, such as from $159,500 in 2021 to $10,217 in 2022 and then up to $83,395 in 2023, suggests that the foundation actively distributes its funds rather than accumulating large reserves. This could be indicative of a grant-making model where funds are received and then disbursed within a relatively short timeframe.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Sparrow Charitable Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Sparrow Charitable Foundation's revenue has declined by 73.3%, moving from $3.0M to $800K. Total assets decreased by 44.8% over the same period, from $151K to $83K. Total functional expenses fell by 75.1%, from $2.9M to $727K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Sparrow Charitable Foundation reported a surplus of $73K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $83K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $83K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $800K | $727K | $83K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $851K | $1000K | $10K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.0M | $1.9M | $160K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $501K | $490K | $25K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.8M | $1.8M | $14K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.5M | $2.5M | $10K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.0M | $1.0M | $8K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.6M | $1.6M | $8K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.0M | $3.1M | $26K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.0M | $2.9M | $151K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $800K, expenses of $727K, and assets of $83K (revenue -5.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $851K, expenses of $1000K, and assets of $10K (revenue -57.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $160K (revenue +299.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $501K, expenses of $490K, and assets of $25K (revenue -72.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $14K (revenue -27.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $10K (revenue +150.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $8K (revenue -37.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $8K (revenue -46.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $26K (revenue +-0.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $151K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Sparrow Charitable Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Sparrow Charitable 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.