The Common Sense Fund Inc
The Common Sense Fund Inc. consistently spends more than it earns, drawing down its substantial asset base.
EIN: 133157570 · Greenwich, CT · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $7.5M |
| Total Expenses | $3.4M |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $23.6M |
| Transparency Score | 60/100 |
Is The Common Sense Fund Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Common Sense Fund Inc directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About The Common Sense Fund Inc
The Common Sense Fund Inc (EIN: 133157570) is a nonprofit organization based in Greenwich, CT. The organization reported total revenue of $7.5M and total assets of $22.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Common Sense Fund Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Common Sense Fund Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 43 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.1M |
| Total Expenses | $3.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,297,038 |
| Total Assets | $23.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $23.6M |
| Operating Margin | -61.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 82.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, The Common Sense Fund Inc reported a deficit of $1.3M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 82.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), The Common Sense Fund Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +80.5% | +5.8% | -5.2% |
| 2022 | -48.1% | +15.7% | -7.6% |
| 2021 | -42.5% | +0.5% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | +27.4% | +6.2% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | +127.2% | +42.7% | -0.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1983 |
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 Common Sense Fund Inc with a Mission Score of 60 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: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Common Sense Fund Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $1.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is a strong positive indicator for responsible executive pay practices relative to the organization's 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 Common Sense Fund Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operating deficits (expenses exceeding revenue) in recent years (e.g., 2021-2023).
- Declining asset base, suggesting reliance on reserves to cover operational shortfalls.
- Unusually low and consistent reported liabilities ($1) across all filings, which may indicate incomplete financial reporting.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Common Sense Fund Inc:
- No reported officer compensation, indicating strong executive compensation transparency and potentially lower administrative costs.
- Maintains a substantial asset base ($23,599,464 in 2023), providing a buffer despite recent deficits.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Common Sense Fund Inc
Is The Common Sense Fund Inc a legitimate charity?
The Common Sense Fund Inc (EIN: 133157570) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Connecticut. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 60/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $7.5M. 3 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does The Common Sense Fund Inc spend its money?
The Common Sense Fund Inc directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Common Sense Fund Inc tax-deductible?
The Common Sense Fund Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133157570). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of The Common Sense Fund Inc's spending goes to programs?
The Common Sense Fund Inc directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is The Common Sense Fund Inc located?
The Common Sense Fund Inc is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut and files with the IRS under EIN 133157570.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Common Sense Fund Inc have?
The Common Sense Fund Inc has 10 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 $7.5M in total revenue.
Why has The Common Sense Fund Inc. consistently spent more than its revenue in recent years?
From 2021 to 2023, the organization's expenses ($3,419,070 in 2023) have significantly exceeded its revenue ($2,122,032 in 2023), leading to a draw-down of assets.
What is the long-term strategy for financial sustainability given the declining asset base?
The organization's assets have decreased from $27,478,483 in 2020 to $23,599,464 in 2023, suggesting reliance on reserves to cover operational deficits.
Is the reported $1 in liabilities accurate across all filings?
The consistent reporting of only $1 in liabilities across all ten filings is highly unusual for an organization of this size and warrants further scrutiny to ensure financial transparency.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Common Sense Fund Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Common Sense Fund Inc's revenue has declined by 5.7%, moving from $2.2M to $2.1M. Total assets increased by 831.7% over the same period, from $2.5M to $23.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 507.8%, from $563K to $3.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Common Sense Fund Inc reported a deficit of $1.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $23.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $23.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.1M | $3.4M | $23.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $1.2M | $3.2M | $24.9M | $1 | — | — |
| 2021 | $2.3M | $2.8M | $27.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $3.9M | $2.8M | $27.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $3.1M | $2.6M | $26.3M | $1 | — | — |
| 2015 | $1.4M | $1.8M | $26.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.9M | $1.6M | $26.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $23.3M | $1.4M | $26.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.0M | $901K | $4.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $2.2M | $563K | $2.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $3.4M, and assets of $23.6M (revenue +80.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $24.9M (revenue -48.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.3M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $27.0M (revenue -42.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $27.5M (revenue +27.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $26.3M (revenue +127.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $26.4M (revenue -29.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $26.9M (revenue -91.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $23.3M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $26.6M (revenue +677.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $901K, and assets of $4.6M (revenue +33.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $563K, and assets of $2.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Common Sense Fund Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Common Sense Fund 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.