Teen Challenge
Teen Challenge shows significant asset growth and zero reported officer compensation amidst volatile revenue.
EIN: 112510315 · Brooklyn, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.4M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $19 |
| Net Assets | $18.9M |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Is Teen Challenge Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Teen Challenge directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Teen Challenge
Teen Challenge (EIN: 112510315) is a nonprofit organization based in Brooklyn, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $3.4M and total assets of $19.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Teen Challenge's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Teen Challenge is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 61 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -4.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.6M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$1.2M |
| Total Assets | $19.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $69K |
| Net Assets | $18.9M |
| Operating Margin | 46.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 162.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Teen Challenge reported a surplus of $1.2M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 162.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Teen Challenge's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -4.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +135.6% | -4.8% | +9.1% |
| 2022 | -31.6% | +2.4% | -9.9% |
| 2021 | +29.6% | -3.8% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | -92.8% | -18.4% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | +1054.6% | +4.2% | +501.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1965 |
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 Teen Challenge 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, Teen Challenge 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 $1.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with assets exceeding $19 million and annual expenses over $1 million. This could indicate that executive leadership is unpaid, compensated through a related entity, or that compensation is categorized differently, raising questions about the full transparency of 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 Teen Challenge's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and asset base, potentially obscuring true leadership costs.
- Extreme revenue volatility, particularly the $17.5 million spike in 2019, which is not explained and deviates significantly from other years' revenues.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, making precise spending efficiency analysis difficult.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Teen Challenge:
- Strong asset base, growing from $3-4 million to over $19 million, indicating significant financial resources.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting a healthy balance sheet and financial stability.
- Expenses have remained relatively stable despite revenue fluctuations, indicating consistent operational costs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Teen Challenge
Is Teen Challenge a legitimate charity?
Teen Challenge (EIN: 112510315) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $3.4M. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Teen Challenge spend its money?
Teen Challenge directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Teen Challenge tax-deductible?
Teen Challenge is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 112510315). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Teen Challenge CEO make?
Teen Challenge's highest-compensated officer earns $19 annually. The organization reported $3.4M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Teen Challenge's spending goes to programs?
Teen Challenge directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Teen Challenge located?
Teen Challenge is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 112510315.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Teen Challenge have?
Teen Challenge 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 $3.4M in total revenue.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as zero?
The IRS 990 filings consistently show 0% officer compensation, which is atypical for an organization of this size. This could mean leaders are volunteers, compensated by a related entity, or that compensation is reported under different expense categories, warranting further inquiry into the organization's compensation practices.
What caused the significant revenue spike in 2019 to $17,554,972?
The 2019 revenue of over $17.5 million is an outlier compared to other years where revenue typically ranges from $1-2 million. Understanding the source of this revenue (e.g., a large one-time donation, asset sale, or specific grant) is crucial for assessing its sustainability and impact on the organization's long-term financial strategy.
How does Teen Challenge allocate its expenses between program, administrative, and fundraising activities?
Without a detailed functional expense breakdown in the provided data, it's challenging to precisely determine the allocation. While we've estimated a breakdown, a review of the full IRS 990, Part IX, would be necessary for accurate figures on spending efficiency.
What is the nature of the substantial asset growth from $3-4 million to over $19 million?
The organization's assets increased significantly from around $3-4 million in 2014-2018 to over $19 million in recent years. Investigating whether this growth is due to property acquisitions, investment gains, or other factors would provide insight into the organization's financial strategy and stability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Teen Challenge showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Teen Challenge's revenue has declined by 42.3%, moving from $4.6M to $2.6M. Total assets increased by 355.8% over the same period, from $4.2M to $19.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 20.8%, from $1.2M to $1.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Teen Challenge reported a surplus of $1.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $69K in liabilities against $19.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%), resulting in net assets of $18.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.6M | $1.4M | $19.0M | $69K | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.1M | $1.5M | $17.4M | $98K | — | — |
| 2021 | $1.6M | $1.4M | $19.4M | $133K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.3M | $1.5M | $19.3M | $258K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $17.6M | $1.8M | $19.0M | $331K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.5M | $1.8M | $3.2M | $200K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.3M | $1.4M | $3.4M | $161K | — | — |
| 2016 | $1.1M | $1.4M | $3.5M | $77K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.1M | $1.1M | $3.7M | $74K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $991K | $1.2M | $3.6M | $61K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $3.9M | $112K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $4.0M | $119K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.6M | $1.2M | $4.2M | $183K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $19.0M (revenue +135.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $17.4M (revenue -31.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $19.4M (revenue +29.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $19.3M (revenue -92.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $17.6M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $19.0M (revenue +1054.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +18.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +12.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $3.5M (revenue -0.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $3.7M (revenue +14.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $991K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $3.6M (revenue -7.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $3.9M (revenue -0.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue -76.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $4.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Teen Challenge:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Teen Challenge 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.