The Ceres Trust
The Ceres Trust shows strong recent revenue growth and no executive compensation, but assets have significantly declined from peak levels.
EIN: 205768077 · Milwaukee, WI · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $13.9M |
| Total Expenses | $14.4M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $17.9M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Ceres Trust Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Ceres Trust directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Ceres Trust
The Ceres Trust (EIN: 205768077) is a nonprofit organization based in Milwaukee, WI, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $13.9M and total assets of $3.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Ceres Trust's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Ceres Trust is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2022). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 38.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $23.7M |
| Total Expenses | $14.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$9.3M |
| Total Assets | $18.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $384K |
| Net Assets | $17.9M |
| Operating Margin | 39.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 2.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 15.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2022, The Ceres Trust reported a surplus of $9.3M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 15.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 2.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2011–2022), The Ceres Trust's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +214.8% | +64.5% | +115.6% |
| 2021 | +36.9% | +10.3% | -13.8% |
| 2020 | +49.9% | +43.8% | -19.3% |
| 2019 | +0.2% | -31.5% | -33.7% |
| 2015 | -72.6% | +15.9% | -16.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| 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 Ceres Trust 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: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Ceres Trust allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $9.3M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 2.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Ceres Trust consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly commendable for a nonprofit of its size and revenue.
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 Ceres Trust's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant fluctuation in assets over time without clear explanation in provided data.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Ceres Trust:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings.
- Strong revenue generation in the most recent fiscal period ($23,738,718 in 2022).
- Expenses well below revenue in the most recent period ($14,412,756 expenses vs. $23,738,718 revenue in 2022), indicating financial health.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history (9 filings).
Frequently Asked Questions about The Ceres Trust
Is The Ceres Trust a legitimate charity?
The Ceres Trust (EIN: 205768077) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Wisconsin. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $13.9M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does The Ceres Trust spend its money?
The Ceres Trust directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 3%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Ceres Trust tax-deductible?
The Ceres Trust is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205768077). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of The Ceres Trust's spending goes to programs?
The Ceres Trust directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does The Ceres Trust compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), The Ceres Trust is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is The Ceres Trust located?
The Ceres Trust is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and files with the IRS under EIN 205768077. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Ceres Trust have?
The Ceres Trust has 9 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 $13.9M in total revenue.
Why have The Ceres Trust's assets decreased significantly from $21,981,118 in 2014 to $3,080,775 currently?
This substantial decrease in assets likely reflects significant grantmaking activities or investment losses over the period. As a grantmaking foundation (NTEE T20), distributing assets to other nonprofits is a core function.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses for The Ceres Trust?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of these expense categories. Further analysis of their full IRS 990 forms would be required to determine the exact percentages.
How does The Ceres Trust manage its investment portfolio given the fluctuations in assets and revenue?
The provided data does not detail investment strategies. The significant swings in assets suggest either an aggressive investment strategy or substantial grant distributions impacting the asset base.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Ceres Trust showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2022), The Ceres Trust's revenue has grown by 3447.6%, moving from $669K to $23.7M. Total assets decreased by 14.9% over the same period, from $21.5M to $18.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 336.8%, from $3.3M to $14.4M. In its most recent filing year (2022), The Ceres Trust reported a surplus of $9.3M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $384K in liabilities against $18.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 2.1%), resulting in net assets of $17.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $23.7M | $14.4M | $18.3M | $384K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $7.5M | $8.8M | $8.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $5.5M | $7.9M | $9.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $3.7M | $5.5M | $12.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.7M | $8.1M | $18.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $13.4M | $7.0M | $22.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.1M | $5.4M | $15.6M | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $676K | $4.3M | $17.9M | $719 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $669K | $3.3M | $21.5M | $6K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2022: Revenue of $23.7M, expenses of $14.4M, and assets of $18.3M (revenue +214.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $7.5M, expenses of $8.8M, and assets of $8.5M (revenue +36.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $7.9M, and assets of $9.8M (revenue +49.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $5.5M, and assets of $12.2M (revenue +0.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $8.1M, and assets of $18.4M (revenue -72.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $13.4M, expenses of $7.0M, and assets of $22.0M (revenue +326.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $15.6M (revenue +363.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $676K, expenses of $4.3M, and assets of $17.9M (revenue +1.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $669K, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $21.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Ceres Trust:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Ceres Trust 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.