The Fund For Theological Education Inc
The Fund For Theological Education Inc shows consistent asset growth despite fluctuating revenues and reports 0% officer compensation.
EIN: 210725643 · Decatur, GA · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $12.3M |
| Total Expenses | $5.6M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $40 |
| Net Assets | $34.9M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Fund For Theological Education Inc 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 Theological Education Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Fund For Theological Education Inc
The Fund For Theological Education Inc (EIN: 210725643) is a nonprofit organization based in Decatur, GA. The organization reported total revenue of $12.3M and total assets of $39.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Fund For Theological Education Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Fund For Theological Education Inc is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 70 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $5.8M |
| Total Expenses | $5.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$179K |
| Total Assets | $35.5M |
| Total Liabilities | $619K |
| Net Assets | $34.9M |
| Operating Margin | 3.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 76.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, The Fund For Theological Education Inc reported a surplus of $179K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 76.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.7% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2010–2023), The Fund For Theological Education Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -20.0% | +4.6% | +10.3% |
| 2022 | -18.1% | +18.2% | -7.2% |
| 2021 | +1373.1% | +3.0% | +14.0% |
| 2020 | -93.3% | -25.3% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | -2.6% | -9.4% | +20.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1956 |
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 Theological Education Inc 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 Fund For Theological Education Inc 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 surplus of $179K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with assets nearing $40 million and annual expenses exceeding $5 million. This suggests either a fully volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is categorized differently, requiring further inquiry for complete understanding.
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 Theological Education Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low reported officer compensation (0%) for an organization of this scale, which may obscure actual executive remuneration.
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility, indicating potential reliance on unpredictable funding sources or large, infrequent grants.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Fund For Theological Education Inc:
- Consistent and substantial asset growth, demonstrating strong financial management and stability (from $19.7M in 2014 to $39.6M currently).
- Generally maintains expenses below revenue, leading to surpluses that contribute to asset accumulation (e.g., $179,407 surplus in 2023).
- Low liabilities relative to assets, indicating a healthy balance sheet and minimal financial risk.
- Extensive filing history (14 filings) providing good historical transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Fund For Theological Education Inc
Is The Fund For Theological Education Inc a legitimate charity?
The Fund For Theological Education Inc (EIN: 210725643) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Georgia. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $12.3M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does The Fund For Theological Education Inc spend its money?
The Fund For Theological Education Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Fund For Theological Education Inc tax-deductible?
The Fund For Theological Education Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 210725643). 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 Theological Education Inc CEO make?
The Fund For Theological Education Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $40 annually. The organization reported $12.3M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of The Fund For Theological Education Inc's spending goes to programs?
The Fund For Theological Education Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is The Fund For Theological Education Inc located?
The Fund For Theological Education Inc is headquartered in Decatur, Georgia and files with the IRS under EIN 210725643.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Fund For Theological Education Inc have?
The Fund For Theological Education Inc has 14 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 $12.3M in total revenue.
How does The Fund For Theological Education Inc sustain its operations with 0% reported officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 14 available filings for an organization of this size (assets nearing $40 million, expenses over $5 million) is highly unusual. It suggests either a fully volunteer executive leadership, or that executive compensation is categorized under other expense lines (e.g., program expenses, administrative expenses) rather than 'officer compensation' on the 990. Further investigation into their detailed expense breakdowns would be necessary to understand this.
What caused the significant revenue fluctuation, particularly the drop to $596,069 in 2020?
The revenue has shown considerable volatility, ranging from a low of $596,069 in 2020 to a high of $9,111,230 in 2018. The sharp drop in 2020 could be attributed to various factors, including economic downturns affecting donations or investment income, or the completion of a major grant cycle. Understanding the specific sources of revenue (e.g., grants, investments, individual donations) would help clarify these fluctuations.
What is the primary driver of the consistent asset growth?
The organization's assets have grown consistently from $19,744,834 in 2014 to $39,615,127 in the latest period. This growth is likely driven by a combination of factors: consistent surpluses where revenue exceeds expenses in most years (e.g., $5,752,139 revenue vs. $5,572,732 expenses in 2023), and potentially strong investment returns on its existing asset base. The ability to retain funds and grow its endowment appears to be a key strength.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Fund For Theological Education Inc showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), The Fund For Theological Education Inc's revenue has grown by 43.4%, moving from $4.0M to $5.8M. Total assets increased by 66.5% over the same period, from $21.3M to $35.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 2.3%, from $5.4M to $5.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Fund For Theological Education Inc reported a surplus of $179K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $619K in liabilities against $35.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.7%), resulting in net assets of $34.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.8M | $5.6M | $35.5M | $619K | — | — |
| 2022 | $7.2M | $5.3M | $32.2M | $207K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $8.8M | $4.5M | $34.7M | $173K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $596K | $4.4M | $30.5M | $269K | — | — |
| 2019 | $8.9M | $5.9M | $31.8M | $244K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $9.1M | $6.5M | $26.5M | $358K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $4.3M | $5.5M | $25.3M | $259K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $7.7M | $4.8M | $26.0M | $271K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $7.9M | $4.4M | $22.7M | $476K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.8M | $3.8M | $19.7M | $449K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $8.1M | $3.6M | $21.8M | $393K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.9M | $4.9M | $17.1M | $537K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $835K | $5.4M | $16.7M | $534K | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $4.0M | $5.4M | $21.3M | $606K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $5.8M, expenses of $5.6M, and assets of $35.5M (revenue -20.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $7.2M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $32.2M (revenue -18.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $8.8M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $34.7M (revenue +1373.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $596K, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $30.5M (revenue -93.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $8.9M, expenses of $5.9M, and assets of $31.8M (revenue -2.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $9.1M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $26.5M (revenue +114.2% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $5.5M, and assets of $25.3M (revenue -44.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $7.7M, expenses of $4.8M, and assets of $26.0M (revenue -2.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $7.9M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $22.7M (revenue +334.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $19.7M (revenue -77.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $8.1M, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $21.8M (revenue +63.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.9M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $17.1M (revenue +491.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $835K, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $16.7M (revenue -79.2% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $21.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Fund For Theological Education Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Fund For Theological Education 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.