The Fellows Initiative
The Fellows Initiative consistently operates near break-even with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 141976029 · Vienna, VA · NTEE: X20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $201K |
| Total Expenses | $219K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $200,000 |
| Net Assets | $57K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Fellows Initiative Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Fellows Initiative directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Fellows Initiative
The Fellows Initiative (EIN: 141976029) is a nonprofit organization based in Vienna, VA, classified under NTEE code X20. The organization reported total revenue of $201K and total assets of $41K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Fellows Initiative's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Fellows Initiative is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 12.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $215K |
| Total Expenses | $219K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-4,451 |
| Total Assets | $63K |
| Total Liabilities | $6K |
| Net Assets | $57K |
| Operating Margin | -2.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 9.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 3.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, The Fellows Initiative reported a deficit of $4K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 3.5 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 9.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2012–2023), The Fellows Initiative's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -11.0% | +4.0% | -5.6% |
| 2022 | +101.8% | +48.5% | +16.5% |
| 2021 | -26.2% | -14.2% | -31.2% |
| 2020 | -6.1% | -16.9% | +24.9% |
| 2019 | -7.0% | +14.5% | -27.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 7210 |
| 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 Fellows Initiative 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Fellows Initiative allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% 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 $4K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 9.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers or key employees receive salaries from the organization. This is highly unusual for an organization with over $200,000 in annual revenue and suggests a volunteer-led or externally funded leadership structure.
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 Fellows Initiative's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown beyond officer compensation makes full spending efficiency analysis difficult.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Fellows Initiative:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating high dedication of funds to mission.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting financial stability and responsible debt management.
- Consistent operational history over a decade, demonstrating sustainability.
- Generally operates near break-even, indicating prudent financial management.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Fellows Initiative
Is The Fellows Initiative a legitimate charity?
The Fellows Initiative (EIN: 141976029) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Virginia. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $201K. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does The Fellows Initiative spend its money?
The Fellows Initiative directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Fellows Initiative tax-deductible?
The Fellows Initiative is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 141976029). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the The Fellows Initiative CEO make?
The Fellows Initiative's highest-compensated officer earns $200,000 annually. The organization reported $201K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of The Fellows Initiative's spending goes to programs?
The Fellows Initiative directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does The Fellows Initiative compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), The Fellows Initiative is above average for NTEE category X20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is The Fellows Initiative located?
The Fellows Initiative is headquartered in Vienna, Virginia and files with the IRS under EIN 141976029. It is classified under NTEE code X20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Fellows Initiative have?
The Fellows Initiative has 12 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 $201K in total revenue.
Is The Fellows Initiative a good charity?
Based on the available IRS 990 data, The Fellows Initiative appears to be a financially stable organization with a strong commitment to its mission, evidenced by 0% officer compensation and consistent operations. However, a full assessment would require more detailed program expense breakdowns.
How does The Fellows Initiative manage its expenses relative to its revenue?
The organization generally manages its expenses to be very close to its revenue. For example, in 2023, expenses were $219,440 against revenues of $214,989, indicating a near break-even operation. There have been years where revenue exceeded expenses (e.g., 2022, 2018, 2016, 2014) and years where expenses slightly exceeded revenue (e.g., 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019).
What is the trend in The Fellows Initiative's assets and liabilities?
The organization's assets have fluctuated, peaking at $104,970 in 2016 and currently standing at $63,177 in 2023. Liabilities have consistently remained low, with the highest reported being $29,963 in 2020, and currently at $5,776, indicating a healthy balance sheet with minimal debt.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Fellows Initiative showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), The Fellows Initiative's revenue has grown by 281.2%, moving from $56K to $215K. Total assets increased by 2567.9% over the same period, from $2K to $63K. Total functional expenses rose by 222.6%, from $68K to $219K. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Fellows Initiative reported a deficit of $4K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $6K in liabilities against $63K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 9.1%), resulting in net assets of $57K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $215K | $219K | $63K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $242K | $211K | $67K | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $120K | $142K | $57K | $26K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $162K | $166K | $83K | $30K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $173K | $199K | $67K | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $186K | $174K | $92K | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $133K | $158K | $87K | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $116K | $96K | $105K | $155 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $76K | $74K | $85K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $91K | $50K | $83K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $78K | $32K | $45K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $56K | $68K | $2K | $5K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $215K, expenses of $219K, and assets of $63K (revenue -11.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $242K, expenses of $211K, and assets of $67K (revenue +101.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $120K, expenses of $142K, and assets of $57K (revenue -26.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $162K, expenses of $166K, and assets of $83K (revenue -6.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $173K, expenses of $199K, and assets of $67K (revenue -7.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $186K, expenses of $174K, and assets of $92K (revenue +39.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $133K, expenses of $158K, and assets of $87K (revenue +14.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $116K, expenses of $96K, and assets of $105K (revenue +51.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $76K, expenses of $74K, and assets of $85K (revenue -16.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $91K, expenses of $50K, and assets of $83K (revenue +17.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $78K, expenses of $32K, and assets of $45K (revenue +37.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $56K, expenses of $68K, and assets of $2K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Fellows Initiative:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Fellows Initiative 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.