Sustainable Markets Foundation
Sustainable Markets Foundation shows significant revenue and asset growth with no reported officer compensation on IRS 990s.
EIN: 134188834 · New York, NY · NTEE: C30 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $65.5M |
| Total Expenses | $30.6M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $65 |
| Net Assets | $42.5M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Sustainable Markets Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Sustainable Markets Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Sustainable Markets Foundation
Sustainable Markets Foundation (EIN: 134188834) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code C30. The organization reported total revenue of $65.5M and total assets of $51.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Sustainable Markets Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Sustainable Markets Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 24 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 20.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $39.2M |
| Total Expenses | $30.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$8.6M |
| Total Assets | $44.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.6M |
| Net Assets | $42.5M |
| Operating Margin | 22.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 17.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Sustainable Markets Foundation reported a surplus of $8.6M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 17.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.7% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Sustainable Markets Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -6.7% | +18.2% | +28.2% |
| 2022 | +116.8% | +41.2% | +91.6% |
| 2021 | -17.4% | +5.8% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | +32.0% | +26.4% | +64.8% |
| 2019 | +26.8% | +1.3% | +56.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2002 |
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 Sustainable Markets Foundation 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, Sustainable Markets Foundation 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 surplus of $8.6M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with revenues exceeding $65 million and suggests that executive leadership may be compensated through a related entity or other non-officer roles, or that the organization operates with a unique, volunteer-driven leadership model.
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 Sustainable Markets Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported on 990s for a large organization, potentially obscuring executive remuneration details.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Sustainable Markets Foundation:
- Strong and consistent revenue growth over the past decade, from $7.1M in 2014 to $39.2M in 2023.
- Significant asset accumulation, growing from $3.3M in 2014 to $44.1M in 2023, indicating robust financial health.
- Low liability-to-asset ratio, suggesting strong financial stability and low debt burden.
- Expenses consistently lower than revenue in most recent periods, allowing for asset growth and reinvestment.
- Alignment with NTEE code C30 (Environmental Protection & Conservation) and demonstrated capacity for large-scale operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sustainable Markets Foundation
Is Sustainable Markets Foundation a legitimate charity?
Sustainable Markets Foundation (EIN: 134188834) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $65.5M. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Sustainable Markets Foundation spend its money?
Sustainable Markets Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Sustainable Markets Foundation tax-deductible?
Sustainable Markets Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134188834). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Sustainable Markets Foundation CEO make?
Sustainable Markets Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $65 annually. The organization reported $65.5M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Sustainable Markets Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Sustainable Markets Foundation directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Sustainable Markets Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Sustainable Markets Foundation is above average for NTEE category C30 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Sustainable Markets Foundation located?
Sustainable Markets Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 134188834. It is classified under NTEE code C30.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Sustainable Markets Foundation have?
Sustainable Markets Foundation has 13 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 $65.5M in total revenue.
How does Sustainable Markets Foundation compensate its executive leadership if 0% officer compensation is reported?
The IRS 990 filings consistently show 0% officer compensation. This suggests that executive compensation may be structured in a way that is not reported under 'officer compensation' on the 990, potentially through a related organization, as contractor fees, or that the organization's leadership is entirely volunteer-based, which would be highly unusual for an organization of this scale.
What is the organization's primary program spending ratio?
While specific program spending percentages are not detailed in the provided data, the overall expenses are consistently lower than revenue, indicating a healthy operational efficiency. Based on typical nonprofit structures and the absence of high administrative or fundraising red flags, a significant portion of expenses is likely directed towards programs.
Has the organization experienced consistent financial growth?
Yes, the organization has demonstrated significant and consistent financial growth. Revenue increased from $7,133,969 in 2014 to $39,210,071 in 2023, and assets grew from $3,318,471 to $44,167,374 over the same period, indicating strong financial health and expansion.
Are the organization's liabilities manageable?
Yes, liabilities appear manageable. In 2023, liabilities were $1,619,122 against assets of $44,167,374, representing a very low liability-to-asset ratio, which indicates strong financial stability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Sustainable Markets Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Sustainable Markets Foundation's revenue has grown by 801.9%, moving from $4.3M to $39.2M. Total assets increased by 2422.5% over the same period, from $1.8M to $44.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 672%, from $4.0M to $30.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Sustainable Markets Foundation reported a surplus of $8.6M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1.6M in liabilities against $44.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.7%), resulting in net assets of $42.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $39.2M | $30.6M | $44.2M | $1.6M | — | — |
| 2022 | $42.0M | $25.9M | $34.5M | $737K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $19.4M | $18.3M | $18.0M | $410K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $23.5M | $17.3M | $17.1M | $609K | — | — |
| 2019 | $17.8M | $13.7M | $10.4M | $48K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $14.0M | $13.5M | $6.6M | $388K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $12.8M | $10.8M | $6.3M | $240K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $10.1M | $10.2M | $4.2M | $220K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $9.9M | $8.8M | $4.3M | $171K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $7.1M | $7.3M | $3.3M | $279K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $6.5M | $5.4M | $3.2M | $167K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.1M | $3.8M | $2.1M | $61K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.3M | $4.0M | $1.8M | $90K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $39.2M, expenses of $30.6M, and assets of $44.2M (revenue -6.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $42.0M, expenses of $25.9M, and assets of $34.5M (revenue +116.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $19.4M, expenses of $18.3M, and assets of $18.0M (revenue -17.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $23.5M, expenses of $17.3M, and assets of $17.1M (revenue +32.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $17.8M, expenses of $13.7M, and assets of $10.4M (revenue +26.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $14.0M, expenses of $13.5M, and assets of $6.6M (revenue +9.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $12.8M, expenses of $10.8M, and assets of $6.3M (revenue +26.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $10.2M, and assets of $4.2M (revenue +2.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $9.9M, expenses of $8.8M, and assets of $4.3M (revenue +38.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $7.1M, expenses of $7.3M, and assets of $3.3M (revenue +10.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $6.5M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +55.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -4.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $1.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Sustainable Markets Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Sustainable Markets 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.