The Fund For American Studies
The Fund For American Studies maintains stable finances with fluctuating revenue and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 136223604 · Washington, DC · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $28.5M |
| Total Expenses | $15.5M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $10 |
| Net Assets | $18.0M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Fund For American Studies Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Fund For American Studies directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Fund For American Studies
The Fund For American Studies (EIN: 136223604) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. The organization reported total revenue of $28.5M and total assets of $28.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Fund For American Studies's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Fund For American Studies is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 59 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 4.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $16.3M |
| Total Expenses | $15.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$808K |
| Total Assets | $22.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $4.1M |
| Net Assets | $18.0M |
| Operating Margin | 5.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 18.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 17.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, The Fund For American Studies reported a surplus of $808K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 17.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 18.5% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), The Fund For American Studies's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +15.8% | +4.7% | -8.4% |
| 2022 | +104.8% | +69.7% | -16.6% |
| 2021 | -20.7% | -8.8% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | -39.8% | -34.0% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | +15.6% | +22.0% | +8.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1967 |
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 Fund For American Studies 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: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Fund For American Studies allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% 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 $808K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 18.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% for officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with revenues often exceeding $10 million. This suggests either that executive compensation is not being reported under this specific line item, or that executives are serving on a pro bono basis, 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 Fund For American Studies's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant revenue volatility across years (e.g., $14M in 202208 to $6.8M in 202108, then $16.3M in 202308)
- Unusually consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which may warrant further scrutiny into executive compensation structures.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Fund For American Studies:
- Consistent positive net assets, indicating financial stability (e.g., $22,075,471 assets vs. $4,076,895 liabilities in 202308).
- History of consistent IRS 990 filings, demonstrating regulatory compliance and transparency.
- Expenses generally managed within revenue, preventing significant deficits in most years (e.g., $16,317,350 revenue vs. $15,509,629 expenses in 202308).
Frequently Asked Questions about The Fund For American Studies
Is The Fund For American Studies a legitimate charity?
The Fund For American Studies (EIN: 136223604) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Washington DC. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $28.5M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does The Fund For American Studies spend its money?
The Fund For American Studies directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Fund For American Studies tax-deductible?
The Fund For American Studies is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136223604). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the The Fund For American Studies CEO make?
The Fund For American Studies's highest-compensated officer earns $10 annually. The organization reported $28.5M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of The Fund For American Studies's spending goes to programs?
The Fund For American Studies directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is The Fund For American Studies located?
The Fund For American Studies is headquartered in Washington, Washington DC and files with the IRS under EIN 136223604.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Fund For American Studies have?
The Fund For American Studies has 13 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 $28.5M in total revenue.
How does The Fund For American Studies manage to report 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all available filings (e.g., 202308, 202208) is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It could indicate that executive leadership is compensated through other means not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that these roles are filled by volunteers or individuals compensated by a related entity. Further investigation into their Part VII, Section A of the 990 would be needed to clarify this.
What is the trend in the organization's net assets?
The organization's net assets (Assets minus Liabilities) have generally increased over the filing periods, from $16,970,062 in 201412 ($22,530,711 - $5,560,356) to $17,998,576 in 202308 ($22,075,471 - $4,076,895), indicating a healthy accumulation of reserves and financial growth.
Has the organization experienced significant revenue volatility?
Yes, the organization has experienced notable revenue volatility. For example, revenue dropped from $14,086,865 in 202208 to $6,879,817 in 202108, before rebounding to $16,317,350 in 202308. This fluctuation suggests reliance on variable funding sources.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Fund For American Studies showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Fund For American Studies's revenue has grown by 67.2%, moving from $9.8M to $16.3M. Total assets decreased by 2.8% over the same period, from $22.7M to $22.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 49.7%, from $10.4M to $15.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Fund For American Studies reported a surplus of $808K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $4.1M in liabilities against $22.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 18.5%), resulting in net assets of $18.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $16.3M | $15.5M | $22.1M | $4.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $14.1M | $14.8M | $24.1M | $7.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $6.9M | $8.7M | $28.9M | $6.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $8.7M | $9.6M | $28.6M | $6.5M | — | — |
| 2019 | $14.4M | $14.5M | $26.7M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $12.5M | $11.9M | $24.6M | $5.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $15.1M | $11.3M | $25.3M | $5.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $10.2M | $10.0M | $22.5M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $10.2M | $10.0M | $21.1M | $5.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $8.5M | $10.1M | $22.5M | $5.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $9.0M | $9.5M | $23.9M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $9.2M | $9.8M | $23.4M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $9.8M | $10.4M | $22.7M | $5.8M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $16.3M, expenses of $15.5M, and assets of $22.1M (revenue +15.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $14.1M, expenses of $14.8M, and assets of $24.1M (revenue +104.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $6.9M, expenses of $8.7M, and assets of $28.9M (revenue -20.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $8.7M, expenses of $9.6M, and assets of $28.6M (revenue -39.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $14.4M, expenses of $14.5M, and assets of $26.7M (revenue +15.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $12.5M, expenses of $11.9M, and assets of $24.6M (revenue -17.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $15.1M, expenses of $11.3M, and assets of $25.3M (revenue +48.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $10.2M, expenses of $10.0M, and assets of $22.5M (revenue +0.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $10.2M, expenses of $10.0M, and assets of $21.1M (revenue +19.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $8.5M, expenses of $10.1M, and assets of $22.5M (revenue -4.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $9.0M, expenses of $9.5M, and assets of $23.9M (revenue -3.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $9.2M, expenses of $9.8M, and assets of $23.4M (revenue -5.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $9.8M, expenses of $10.4M, and assets of $22.7M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Fund For American Studies:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Fund For American Studies 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.