The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc
Michelson Found Animals Foundation maintains strong assets despite fluctuating revenues and consistent 0% officer compensation.
EIN: 203944602 · Los Angeles, CA · NTEE: T23 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $10.3M |
| Total Expenses | $7.7M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $12.9M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc (EIN: 203944602) is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, CA, classified under NTEE code T23. The organization reported total revenue of $10.3M and total assets of $15.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). 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 | $6.1M |
| Total Expenses | $7.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,663,582 |
| Total Assets | $14.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.5M |
| Net Assets | $12.9M |
| Operating Margin | -27.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 10.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 22.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $1.7M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 22.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 10.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -49.0% | -27.9% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | -11.8% | -16.2% | +15.3% |
| 2021 | +4904.5% | +1368.0% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | -97.7% | -92.9% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | -22.9% | -10.9% | -3.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
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 Michelson Found Animals Foundation 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. 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 deficit of $1.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 10.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and suggests either pro-bono leadership or compensation is covered by a related entity, warranting further investigation.
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 Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits (e.g., $1.6 million in 2023) without clear explanation of funding sources to cover them.
- 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further inquiry into leadership compensation structure.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc:
- Strong asset base, consistently above $12 million in recent years, providing financial stability.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, indicating good transparency and compliance.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds towards the mission.
- Significant revenue generation, with multiple years exceeding $10 million, demonstrating fundraising capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc
Is The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc (EIN: 203944602) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in California. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $10.3M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc spend its money?
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203944602). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc is above average for NTEE category T23 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc located?
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and files with the IRS under EIN 203944602. It is classified under NTEE code T23.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc have?
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc 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 $10.3M in total revenue.
How does the organization cover its operational deficits, such as the $1.6 million deficit in 2023?
The organization likely covers operational deficits by drawing from its substantial assets, which were $14.4 million in 2023, or through other non-operating income sources not detailed in the provided summary.
What is the source of the significant revenue fluctuation, particularly the drop from $11.9 million in 2022 to $6.07 million in 2023?
The provided data does not specify the reasons for revenue fluctuations; however, it could be due to varying grant cycles, large one-time donations, or changes in investment income.
Given the 0% officer compensation, how are the organization's leadership roles compensated, if at all?
The 0% officer compensation suggests that leadership may be uncompensated, compensated by a related entity, or that the roles are filled by volunteers. This practice is uncommon for an organization with over $10 million in annual revenue and assets.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided summary data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories. A full IRS Form 990 would be needed for this granular information.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 39.5%, moving from $4.4M to $6.1M. Total assets increased by 167% over the same period, from $5.4M to $14.4M. Total functional expenses fell by 1.9%, from $7.9M to $7.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $1.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.5M in liabilities against $14.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 10.3%), resulting in net assets of $12.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $6.1M | $7.7M | $14.4M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $11.9M | $10.7M | $14.6M | $3.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $13.5M | $12.8M | $12.7M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $270K | $872K | $12.7M | $2.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $11.9M | $12.3M | $12.7M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $15.5M | $13.8M | $13.1M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $11.0M | $11.4M | $7.0M | $928K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $15.6M | $9.8M | $7.9M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.5M | $9.0M | $796K | $156K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.4M | $7.9M | $5.4M | $620K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $6.1M, expenses of $7.7M, and assets of $14.4M (revenue -49.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $11.9M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $14.6M (revenue -11.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $13.5M, expenses of $12.8M, and assets of $12.7M (revenue +4904.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $270K, expenses of $872K, and assets of $12.7M (revenue -97.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $11.9M, expenses of $12.3M, and assets of $12.7M (revenue -22.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $15.5M, expenses of $13.8M, and assets of $13.1M (revenue +41.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $11.0M, expenses of $11.4M, and assets of $7.0M (revenue -29.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $15.6M, expenses of $9.8M, and assets of $7.9M (revenue +244.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $9.0M, and assets of $796K (revenue +3.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $7.9M, and assets of $5.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Michelson Found Animals Foundation 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.