The 1890 Universities Foundation
The 1890 Universities Foundation shows strong asset growth and no officer compensation, but reported expenses exceeded revenue in the last two periods.
EIN: 205683899 · Washington, DC · NTEE: Q20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.2M |
| Total Expenses | $5.0M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $4 |
| Net Assets | $544K |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is The 1890 Universities Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The 1890 Universities Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The 1890 Universities Foundation
The 1890 Universities Foundation (EIN: 205683899) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code Q20. The organization reported total revenue of $3.2M and total assets of $4.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The 1890 Universities Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The 1890 Universities Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2017–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 48.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $4.1M |
| Total Expenses | $5.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-903,310 |
| Total Assets | $4.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $3.6M |
| Net Assets | $544K |
| Operating Margin | -22.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 87.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 10.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, The 1890 Universities Foundation reported a deficit of $903K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 10.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 87.0% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 5 years of filings (2017–2023), The 1890 Universities Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 48.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +24.2% | +36.9% | +22.6% |
| 2022 | -22.8% | +29.9% | +22.7% |
| 2021 | +559.1% | +405.9% | +1420.4% |
| 2018 | +66.0% | +81.9% | +100.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| 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 The 1890 Universities Foundation with a Mission Score of 90 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, The 1890 Universities 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 deficit of $903K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 87.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization. This is highly unusual for an organization with over $4 million in revenue and suggests a strong commitment to directing funds towards its mission rather than executive salaries.
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 The 1890 Universities Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses exceeded revenue in the last two reported periods (2022 and 2023), with a deficit of over $900,000 in 2023.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The 1890 Universities Foundation:
- Consistent and significant growth in assets, from $90,965 in 2017 to $4,168,469 in 2023, indicating strong financial management.
- Reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting a high dedication of funds to programmatic activities.
- Substantial revenue growth from $389,684 in 2017 to over $4 million in 2023, demonstrating successful fundraising and program expansion.
- Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms, indicating good transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about The 1890 Universities Foundation
Is The 1890 Universities Foundation a legitimate charity?
The 1890 Universities Foundation (EIN: 205683899) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Washington DC. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $3.2M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does The 1890 Universities Foundation spend its money?
The 1890 Universities Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The 1890 Universities Foundation tax-deductible?
The 1890 Universities Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205683899). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the The 1890 Universities Foundation CEO make?
The 1890 Universities Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $4 annually. The organization reported $3.2M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of The 1890 Universities Foundation's spending goes to programs?
The 1890 Universities Foundation directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does The 1890 Universities Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), The 1890 Universities Foundation is above average for NTEE category Q20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is The 1890 Universities Foundation located?
The 1890 Universities Foundation is headquartered in Washington, Washington DC and files with the IRS under EIN 205683899. It is classified under NTEE code Q20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The 1890 Universities Foundation have?
The 1890 Universities Foundation has 5 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 $3.2M in total revenue.
Is The 1890 Universities Foundation financially stable despite recent deficits?
While the organization reported expenses exceeding revenue in 2022 and 2023, its assets have consistently grown, reaching $4,168,469 in 2023. This substantial asset base provides a buffer against short-term deficits, suggesting a degree of financial stability, though sustained deficits would warrant closer examination.
How does the 0% officer compensation impact the organization's operations?
The 0% officer compensation across all filings is a significant indicator that funds are not being used for executive salaries. This likely means that leadership roles are either volunteer-based, compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation, or that the organization has a highly lean administrative structure, allowing more resources to be allocated to programs.
What caused the significant increase in revenue and assets between 2018 and 2021?
The organization experienced substantial growth, with revenue jumping from $647,006 in 2018 to $4,264,702 in 2021, and assets increasing from $182,215 to $2,770,371 in the same period. This indicates successful fundraising efforts, increased grant acquisition, or significant program expansion during those years.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The 1890 Universities Foundation showing financial trends over 5 years of public records:
Over 5 years of IRS 990 filings (2017–2023), The 1890 Universities Foundation's revenue has grown by 949.2%, moving from $390K to $4.1M. Total assets increased by 4482.5% over the same period, from $91K to $4.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 1537%, from $305K to $5.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The 1890 Universities Foundation reported a deficit of $903K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $3.6M in liabilities against $4.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 87.0%), resulting in net assets of $544K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.1M | $5.0M | $4.2M | $3.6M | — | — |
| 2022 | $3.3M | $3.6M | $3.4M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.3M | $2.8M | $2.8M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $647K | $555K | $182K | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $390K | $305K | $91K | $6K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $4.2M (revenue +24.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue -22.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $2.8M (revenue +559.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $647K, expenses of $555K, and assets of $182K (revenue +66.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $390K, expenses of $305K, and assets of $91K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The 1890 Universities Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The 1890 Universities 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.