Straus Harris Foundation
Straus Harris Foundation shows significant asset growth with fluctuating revenue and minimal reported liabilities.
EIN: 201869371 · Philadelphia, PA · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $15.7M |
| Total Expenses | $429K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $3.8M |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Is Straus Harris Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Straus Harris Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Straus Harris Foundation
Straus Harris Foundation (EIN: 201869371) is a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia, PA, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $15.7M and total assets of $18.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Straus Harris Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Straus Harris Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 30.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $451K |
| Total Expenses | $429K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$22K |
| Total Assets | $3.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $3.8M |
| Operating Margin | 4.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 105.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Straus Harris Foundation reported a surplus of $22K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 105.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Straus Harris Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +28.5% | -19.6% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | -94.7% | +167.0% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | +5811.6% | +70.8% | +308.5% |
| 2020 | +89.8% | -6.4% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | -65.8% | +311.5% | -16.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
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 Straus Harris Foundation with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Straus Harris Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% 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 $22K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a fully volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is categorized under other operational expenses, which limits transparency regarding leadership costs.
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 Straus Harris Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities, which is highly unusual and lacks transparency.
- 0% reported officer compensation across all filings, potentially obscuring leadership costs.
- Significant disparity between revenue and expenses in certain years (e.g., 2021 revenue of $6.6M vs. expenses of $199K), indicating large asset accumulation or delayed grant-making without clear immediate program spending.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Straus Harris Foundation:
- Demonstrated ability to attract significant funding, with recent revenue of $15,730,549 and a $6.6 million spike in 2021.
- Substantial asset growth, from $922,286 in 2011 to $18,317,860 currently, indicating strong financial stewardship or investment performance.
- Low expense ratios in certain years (e.g., 2021) suggest efficient operations or a focus on endowment growth for long-term impact.
Frequently Asked Questions about Straus Harris Foundation
Is Straus Harris Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Straus Harris Foundation (EIN: 201869371) some concerns. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Straus Harris Foundation spend its money?
Straus Harris Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Straus Harris Foundation tax-deductible?
Straus Harris Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201869371). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Straus Harris Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Straus Harris Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Straus Harris Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 70/100 (Good), Straus Harris 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 Straus Harris Foundation located?
Straus Harris Foundation is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and files with the IRS under EIN 201869371. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Straus Harris Foundation have?
Straus Harris 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 $15.7M in total revenue.
How does the Straus Harris Foundation manage its significant revenue fluctuations, such as the $6.6 million in 2021 versus $451,038 in 2023?
The significant revenue fluctuations suggest the foundation may receive large, infrequent grants or be subject to market-driven investment gains. The large revenue in 2021 with relatively low expenses indicates a strategy of accumulating assets or making substantial grants in subsequent periods, rather than immediate program spending.
What is the nature of the 'Liabilities=$1' reported consistently across all filings?
The consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities is highly unusual for any organization. It could indicate a specific accounting practice for private foundations, a simplified balance sheet, or that liabilities are being offset or managed in a way not fully transparent in the summary data. This warrants further scrutiny of their full financial statements.
Given the 0% officer compensation, how are the foundation's operations managed and led?
The absence of reported officer compensation suggests that the foundation may be primarily run by volunteers, or that any compensation for leadership roles is classified under other expense categories, such as 'salaries and wages' for non-officer staff or professional fees, which would obscure direct executive costs.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Straus Harris Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Straus Harris Foundation's revenue has grown by 2345%, moving from $18K to $451K. Total assets increased by 308.6% over the same period, from $922K to $3.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 419.6%, from $83K to $429K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Straus Harris Foundation reported a surplus of $22K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $3.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $3.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $451K | $429K | $3.8M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $351K | $534K | $3.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $6.6M | $200K | $3.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $112K | $117K | $962K | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $59K | $125K | $965K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $172K | $30K | $1.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $176K | $121K | $1.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $92K | $108K | $954K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $135K | $87K | $970K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $18K | $83K | $922K | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $451K, expenses of $429K, and assets of $3.8M (revenue +28.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $351K, expenses of $534K, and assets of $3.7M (revenue -94.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $6.6M, expenses of $200K, and assets of $3.9M (revenue +5811.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $112K, expenses of $117K, and assets of $962K (revenue +89.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $59K, expenses of $125K, and assets of $965K (revenue -65.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $172K, expenses of $30K, and assets of $1.2M (revenue -2.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $176K, expenses of $121K, and assets of $1.0M (revenue +92.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $92K, expenses of $108K, and assets of $954K (revenue -32.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $135K, expenses of $87K, and assets of $970K (revenue +631.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $18K, expenses of $83K, and assets of $922K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Straus Harris Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Straus Harris 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.