Sunlight Foundation
Sunlight Foundation faces significant financial instability with declining revenue and assets, frequently operating at a deficit.
EIN: 203903427 · Washington, DC · NTEE: W20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Sunlight Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Sunlight Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Sunlight Foundation
Sunlight Foundation (EIN: 203903427) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code W20. The organization reported total revenue of $841K and total assets of $968K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Sunlight Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Sunlight Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2019). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -22.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $841K |
| Total Expenses | $1.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-654,787 |
| Total Assets | $968K |
| Total Liabilities | $33K |
| Net Assets | $935K |
| Operating Margin | -77.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 7.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2019, Sunlight Foundation reported a deficit of $655K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 7.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.5% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2011–2019), Sunlight Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -22.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | -61.2% | +8.5% | -41.4% |
| 2018 | +327.5% | -5.1% | +95.6% |
| 2017 | +54.8% | -61.6% | -53.8% |
| 2016 | -93.4% | -16.3% | -65.6% |
| 2015 | +19.8% | -31.5% | +9.1% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
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 Sunlight Foundation with a Mission Score of 55 out of 100 (Fair). 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: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Sunlight Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $655K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and past revenue levels.
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 Sunlight Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant and consistent operational deficits (e.g., $840,704 revenue vs. $1,495,491 expenses in 2019).
- Extreme revenue volatility over the past decade.
- Substantial decline in total assets from $7.4 million in 2013 to $0.9 million in 2019.
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization of this scale, which may warrant further investigation into compensation structures.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Sunlight Foundation:
- Reported 0% officer compensation, indicating a potential commitment to directing funds to mission or a unique compensation model.
- Long history of filing IRS 990s (9 filings), suggesting a commitment to transparency in reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sunlight Foundation
Is Sunlight Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Sunlight Foundation (EIN: 203903427) some concerns. Mission Score: 55/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
How does Sunlight Foundation spend its money?
Sunlight Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Sunlight Foundation tax-deductible?
Sunlight Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203903427). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Sunlight Foundation financially sustainable given its revenue volatility?
The organization's revenue has fluctuated dramatically, from nearly $9 million in 2013 to under $1 million in 2019, and expenses have frequently exceeded revenue, raising concerns about long-term financial sustainability.
Why has the organization's asset base decreased so significantly?
Assets have declined from over $7 million in 2013 to under $1 million in 2019, suggesting a substantial reduction in reserves or a significant change in operational scale.
What is the reason for 0% officer compensation across all years?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is unusual and could indicate that officers are compensated by a related entity, are volunteers, or that the compensation is reported under a different category not specified in the provided data.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Sunlight Foundation showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2019), Sunlight Foundation's revenue has declined by 86.4%, moving from $6.2M to $841K. Total assets decreased by 81% over the same period, from $5.1M to $968K. Total functional expenses fell by 76%, from $6.2M to $1.5M. In its most recent filing year (2019), Sunlight Foundation reported a deficit of $655K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $33K in liabilities against $968K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.5%), resulting in net assets of $935K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $841K | $1.5M | $968K | $33K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $2.2M | $1.4M | $1.7M | $63K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $507K | $1.5M | $845K | $45K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $328K | $3.8M | $1.8M | $85K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $5.0M | $4.5M | $5.3M | $131K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $4.2M | $6.6M | $4.9M | $157K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $8.9M | $7.0M | $7.5M | $327K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $7.9M | $7.5M | $5.6M | $382K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $6.2M | $6.2M | $5.1M | $307K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2019: Revenue of $841K, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $968K (revenue -61.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +327.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $507K, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $845K (revenue +54.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $328K, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $1.8M (revenue -93.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $5.3M (revenue +19.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $6.6M, and assets of $4.9M (revenue -53.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $8.9M, expenses of $7.0M, and assets of $7.5M (revenue +13.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $7.9M, expenses of $7.5M, and assets of $5.6M (revenue +27.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $6.2M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $5.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Sunlight Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Sunlight 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.