The Derfner Foundation
The Derfner Foundation maintains over $200 million in assets with highly variable annual revenue and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 133661341 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $13.5M |
| Total Expenses | $9.8M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $200 |
| Net Assets | $198.6M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Derfner Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Derfner Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Derfner Foundation
The Derfner Foundation (EIN: 133661341) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $13.5M and total assets of $218.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Derfner Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Derfner Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 34 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $65.1M |
| Total Expenses | $9.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$55.2M |
| Total Assets | $200.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.0M |
| Net Assets | $198.6M |
| Operating Margin | 84.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 244.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, The Derfner Foundation reported a surplus of $55.2M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 244.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), The Derfner Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +1047.1% | +14.4% | +52.1% |
| 2022 | -56.7% | -11.5% | -16.8% |
| 2021 | +395.0% | +3.0% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | -64.6% | +7.2% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | +38.1% | +6.3% | +7.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1992 |
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 Derfner 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: 8%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 2%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Derfner Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 8%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 2%. 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 surplus of $55.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Derfner Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with over $200 million in assets and annual expenses ranging from $8 million to $10 million in recent years. This suggests that executive leadership may be unpaid, compensated through a related entity, or that the foundation operates with a volunteer board and no paid officers, which would be a significant strength in terms of resource allocation.
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 Derfner Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Unexplained significant increase in liabilities to $2,008,501 in 2023 from negligible amounts in prior years.
- Lack of reported officer compensation for an organization with over $200 million in assets, which could obscure full leadership costs if compensated through other means.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Derfner Foundation:
- Strong financial stability with over $200 million in assets, providing a robust endowment.
- Consistently low liabilities in most years, indicating sound financial management.
- Zero reported officer compensation, suggesting highly efficient use of funds at the executive level or a volunteer-led structure.
- Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms, demonstrating transparency in financial reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Derfner Foundation
Is The Derfner Foundation a legitimate charity?
The Derfner Foundation (EIN: 133661341) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $13.5M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does The Derfner Foundation spend its money?
The Derfner Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 2%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Derfner Foundation tax-deductible?
The Derfner Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133661341). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the The Derfner Foundation CEO make?
The Derfner Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $200 annually. The organization reported $13.5M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of The Derfner Foundation's spending goes to programs?
The Derfner Foundation directs 90% to programs, 2% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is The Derfner Foundation located?
The Derfner Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 133661341.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Derfner Foundation have?
The Derfner 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 $13.5M in total revenue.
How does The Derfner Foundation manage to report 0% officer compensation given its size and asset base?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization with over $200 million in assets and millions in annual expenses. This could indicate that the foundation is entirely volunteer-run at the executive level, that compensation is paid through a related entity not captured in this section of the 990, or that the foundation's structure does not involve traditional 'officer' roles with compensation.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities to over $2 million in 2023 from negligible amounts in previous years?
In 2023, the foundation reported liabilities of $2,008,501, a substantial increase from figures like $7,780 in 2022 and $5,224 in 2021. This sudden jump warrants further investigation to understand the nature of these new liabilities, such as new grants payable, loans, or other financial obligations.
What is the primary programmatic focus of The Derfner Foundation, given its NTEE code is unknown?
Without an NTEE code, the specific mission and programmatic areas of the foundation are not immediately clear from the provided data. Given its substantial assets and grant-making foundation characteristics, understanding its focus would provide better context for its financial activities.
How does the foundation manage its highly variable annual revenue while maintaining consistent expense levels?
The foundation experiences significant fluctuations in annual revenue (e.g., $65M in 2023, $5.6M in 2022, $13M in 2021), yet its expenses have remained relatively stable around $8-10 million in recent years. This suggests that the foundation likely relies heavily on its substantial asset base and investment income to fund its operations and grants, rather than being solely dependent on annual contributions.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Derfner Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Derfner Foundation's revenue has grown by 0.1%, moving from $65.0M to $65.1M. Total assets increased by 197.5% over the same period, from $67.4M to $200.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 3420.1%, from $280K to $9.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Derfner Foundation reported a surplus of $55.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $2.0M in liabilities against $200.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.0%), resulting in net assets of $198.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $65.1M | $9.8M | $200.6M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $5.7M | $8.6M | $131.9M | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $13.1M | $9.7M | $158.5M | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.6M | $9.5M | $150.2M | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $7.5M | $8.8M | $147.2M | $24K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $5.4M | $8.3M | $136.7M | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $6.1M | $7.3M | $146.9M | $12K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $74.5M | $3.7M | $145.8M | $20K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $5.9M | $1.9M | $72.1M | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $65.0M | $280K | $67.4M | $2K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $65.1M, expenses of $9.8M, and assets of $200.6M (revenue +1047.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $8.6M, and assets of $131.9M (revenue -56.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $13.1M, expenses of $9.7M, and assets of $158.5M (revenue +395.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $9.5M, and assets of $150.2M (revenue -64.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $7.5M, expenses of $8.8M, and assets of $147.2M (revenue +38.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $5.4M, expenses of $8.3M, and assets of $136.7M (revenue -11.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $6.1M, expenses of $7.3M, and assets of $146.9M (revenue -91.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $74.5M, expenses of $3.7M, and assets of $145.8M (revenue +1160.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $5.9M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $72.1M (revenue -90.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $65.0M, expenses of $280K, and assets of $67.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Derfner Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Derfner 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.