The Cottage Bridge Foundation
The Cottage Bridge Foundation shows strong asset growth but recent years indicate expenses exceeding revenue.
EIN: 208724288 · Pittsburgh, PA · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.8M |
| Total Expenses | $709K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $12 |
| Net Assets | $10.6M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Cottage Bridge Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Cottage Bridge Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Cottage Bridge Foundation
The Cottage Bridge Foundation (EIN: 208724288) is a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, PA, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $1.8M and total assets of $12.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Cottage Bridge Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Cottage Bridge Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 18 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -8.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $483K |
| Total Expenses | $709K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-226,733 |
| Total Assets | $10.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $10.6M |
| Operating Margin | -47.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 180.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, The Cottage Bridge Foundation reported a deficit of $227K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 180.0 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 Cottage Bridge Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -8.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +78.2% | -4.0% | +14.3% |
| 2022 | -67.1% | +15.8% | +12.5% |
| 2021 | -55.1% | +9.1% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | +171.6% | +46.1% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | -3.8% | +59.5% | +53.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2008 |
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 Cottage Bridge Foundation 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: 5%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Cottage Bridge Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. With 90% 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 $227K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Cottage Bridge Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no funds are allocated to executive salaries, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with over $12 million in assets.
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 Cottage Bridge Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses exceeded revenue in 2023 ($709,358 vs. $482,625) and 2022 ($739,264 vs. $270,867), indicating potential operational deficits.
- The consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $12 million in assets is highly unusual and could suggest alternative compensation structures or a fully volunteer-led executive team, which might lack professional oversight.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Cottage Bridge Foundation:
- Strong asset growth from $2,337,908 in 2011 to $12,051,307 currently, indicating robust financial management and resource accumulation.
- Extremely low liabilities ($0 or $1 across all filings) demonstrate a very strong balance sheet and minimal financial risk.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a high dedication to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries.
- Long filing history (10 filings) provides a comprehensive view of financial trends and stability.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Cottage Bridge Foundation
Is The Cottage Bridge Foundation a legitimate charity?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation (EIN: 208724288) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Pennsylvania. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.8M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does The Cottage Bridge Foundation spend its money?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Cottage Bridge Foundation tax-deductible?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208724288). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the The Cottage Bridge Foundation CEO make?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $12 annually. The organization reported $1.8M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of The Cottage Bridge Foundation's spending goes to programs?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation directs 90% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does The Cottage Bridge Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), The Cottage Bridge Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is The Cottage Bridge Foundation located?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and files with the IRS under EIN 208724288. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Cottage Bridge Foundation have?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation 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 $1.8M in total revenue.
Is The Cottage Bridge Foundation a good charity?
Based on the available data, The Cottage Bridge Foundation exhibits several characteristics of a good charity, including significant asset growth, extremely low liabilities, and a remarkable 0% officer compensation, suggesting a strong commitment to its mission. However, recent years show expenses exceeding revenue, which could impact long-term operational sustainability if not addressed.
Why are expenses exceeding revenue in recent years?
In 2023, expenses were $709,358 against revenue of $482,625, and in 2022, expenses were $739,264 against revenue of $270,867. This trend suggests the organization may be utilizing accumulated reserves or experiencing a temporary dip in funding, which warrants further investigation into their financial strategy and funding sources.
How does the organization manage without officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization with over $12 million in assets. This could indicate that leadership is entirely volunteer-based, compensated through other means not classified as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that the organization has a unique operational model.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Cottage Bridge Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Cottage Bridge Foundation's revenue has declined by 66.2%, moving from $1.4M to $483K. Total assets increased by 355.2% over the same period, from $2.3M to $10.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 679%, from $91K to $709K. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Cottage Bridge Foundation reported a deficit of $227K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $10.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $10.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $483K | $709K | $10.6M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $271K | $739K | $9.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $824K | $639K | $8.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.8M | $585K | $8.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $676K | $401K | $6.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $703K | $251K | $4.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $865K | $286K | $4.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $674K | $239K | $3.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $902K | $232K | $3.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.4M | $91K | $2.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $483K, expenses of $709K, and assets of $10.6M (revenue +78.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $271K, expenses of $739K, and assets of $9.3M (revenue -67.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $824K, expenses of $639K, and assets of $8.3M (revenue -55.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $585K, and assets of $8.1M (revenue +171.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $676K, expenses of $401K, and assets of $6.8M (revenue -3.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $703K, expenses of $251K, and assets of $4.5M (revenue -18.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $865K, expenses of $286K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +28.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $674K, expenses of $239K, and assets of $3.4M (revenue -25.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $902K, expenses of $232K, and assets of $3.0M (revenue -36.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $91K, and assets of $2.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Cottage Bridge Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Cottage Bridge 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.