The Century Foundation Inc
The Century Foundation Inc. shows consistent operating deficits despite substantial assets and zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 131624235 · New York, NY · NTEE: R99 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is The Century Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Century Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Century Foundation Inc
The Century Foundation Inc (EIN: 131624235) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code R99. The organization reported total revenue of $25.7M and total assets of $61.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Century Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates The Century Foundation Inc 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, The Century Foundation Inc 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.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The reported 0% officer compensation across all nine filings is highly unusual for an organization with over $61 million in assets and annual expenses exceeding $10 million, suggesting executive compensation may be categorized differently or the organization operates with entirely volunteer leadership at the officer level.
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 Century Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits in recent years (e.g., $1.4M deficit in 2023, $118K deficit in 2022, $2.8M deficit in 2020).
- Unusual 0% reported officer compensation across all filings, which may obscure actual executive remuneration.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Century Foundation Inc:
- Strong asset base of over $61 million, providing financial stability.
- Consistent and transparent filing of IRS 990 forms over nine periods.
- Significant revenue growth from $1.7 million in 2011 to over $10 million in 2023, indicating strong fundraising capacity at times.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Century Foundation Inc
Is The Century Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Century Foundation Inc (EIN: 131624235) some concerns. Mission Score: 70/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does The Century Foundation Inc spend its money?
The Century Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to The Century Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
The Century Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131624235). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0% across all filings?
This is highly unusual for an organization of this size and could indicate that executive compensation is reported under other expense categories, or that the organization's leadership is entirely pro bono, which would be a significant strength but warrants clarification.
What is the long-term strategy to address the recurring operational deficits?
In fiscal year 2023, expenses exceeded revenue by over $1.4 million, and similar deficits occurred in 2022 and 2020. While the organization has substantial assets, a sustained pattern of spending more than it earns could impact its financial health over time.
How are the substantial assets of $61 million being utilized to support the mission?
With over $61 million in assets, understanding the investment strategy and how these assets contribute to program stability and growth, especially given the operating deficits, is crucial.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Century Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Century Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 485.5%, moving from $1.7M to $10.2M. Total assets increased by 42.2% over the same period, from $41.3M to $58.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 191.4%, from $4.0M to $11.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Century Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $1.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.8M in liabilities against $58.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 4.8%), resulting in net assets of $55.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $10.2M | $11.6M | $58.7M | $2.8M | — | — |
| 2022 | $10.1M | $10.2M | $56.8M | $590K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $9.3M | $8.7M | $67.8M | $462K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $5.7M | $8.6M | $55.8M | $444K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.0M | $4.8M | $62.0M | $402K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $7.1M | $4.4M | $66.6M | $410K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $27.6M | $4.2M | $62.2M | $361K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.7M | $4.2M | $41.9M | $3.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.7M | $4.0M | $41.3M | $688K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $10.2M, expenses of $11.6M, and assets of $58.7M (revenue +1.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $10.2M, and assets of $56.8M (revenue +8.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $9.3M, expenses of $8.7M, and assets of $67.8M (revenue +62.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $8.6M, and assets of $55.8M (revenue +186.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $4.8M, and assets of $62.0M (revenue -71.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $7.1M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $66.6M (revenue -74.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $27.6M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $62.2M (revenue +1550.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $41.9M (revenue -3.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $41.3M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Century Foundation Inc 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.