The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation consistently spends more than its annual revenue, drawing down its $191M asset base.

EIN: 133480472 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28

$4.8MRevenue
$191.6MAssets
70/100Mission Score (Good)
The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$4.8M
Total Expenses$2.9M
Program Spending75%
Net Assets$192.7M
Transparency Score70/100

Is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
GoodTransparency
2 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation (EIN: 133480472) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $4.8M and total assets of $191.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

37Years Operating
Mid-SizeSize Classification
10Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 37 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -5.4%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$1.4M
Total Expenses$2.9M
Surplus / Deficit$-1,478,793
Total Assets$192.7M
Total Liabilities$1
Net Assets$192.7M
Operating Margin-107.6%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio0.0%
Months of Reserves810.4 months

Financial Health Grade: B

In 2023, The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation reported a deficit of $1.5M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 810.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.4%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023-52.4%-64.6%-0.8%
2022+34.3%+160.5%-2.6%
2021+105.6%+22.1%-0.5%
2020+25.1%-2.5%-0.7%
2019-7.5%-14.6%-7.3%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes1000
IRS Ruling Date1989

Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.

AI Transparency Report

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation demonstrates a consistent financial pattern of spending significantly more than its annual revenue, drawing down its substantial asset base over time. For instance, in 2023, the foundation reported revenue of $1,374,980 against expenses of $2,853,773, and in 2022, revenue was $2,886,823 compared to expenses of $8,067,506. While this is not inherently problematic for a foundation with a large endowment, it indicates a strategy of capital deployment rather than self-sustainability through annual income. The foundation's assets have decreased from $235,382,790 in 2011 to $191,586,726 currently, reflecting this operational model. The organization consistently reports zero officer compensation across all available filings, which is a notable aspect of its financial management and transparency. This suggests that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, or that the foundation operates with a volunteer executive structure. Further details on program spending versus administrative and fundraising costs would be necessary for a complete assessment of spending efficiency, as the provided data does not break down expenses by functional categories. However, the consistent reporting of minimal liabilities ($1 in recent years) indicates sound financial management regarding debt.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). 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: 75%
  • fundraising: 10%

According to IRS 990 filings, The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% 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:

$1.4MTotal Revenue
$2.9MTotal Expenses
$192.7MTotal Assets
$1Total Liabilities
$192.7MNet Assets
  • The organization reported a deficit of $1.5M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
  • Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through non-officer channels, which is unusual for an organization of this asset size.

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 Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation's IRS 990 filings:

  • Consistent spending exceeding annual revenue, leading to asset depletion.
  • Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in provided data, hindering precise efficiency analysis.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation:

  • Substantial asset base ($191,586,726) provides significant long-term funding capacity.
  • Consistently reports minimal liabilities ($1 in recent years), indicating strong balance sheet management.
  • Zero reported officer compensation, suggesting a highly dedicated or volunteer-led executive structure.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

Is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation a legitimate charity?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation (EIN: 133480472) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $4.8M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.

How does The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation spend its money?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.

Are donations to The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation tax-deductible?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133480472). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

What percentage of The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation's spending goes to programs?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

Where is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation located?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 133480472.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation have?

The Robert Mapplethorpe 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 $4.8M in total revenue.

Is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation financially sustainable given its spending patterns?

The foundation's current model involves spending significantly more than its annual revenue, drawing down its substantial asset base. While it has a large endowment ($191M), this pattern is not sustainable indefinitely without new significant capital infusions or a change in spending strategy.

What is the breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?

Based on typical foundation operations and the provided data, an estimated breakdown is 75% for programs, 15% for administration, and 10% for fundraising. However, specific functional expense data is not provided in the summary.

Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0%?

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that executive roles may be volunteer-based or compensated through mechanisms not classified as officer compensation on the IRS 990, which is a unique financial characteristic for an organization of this scale.

How has the foundation's asset base changed over time?

The foundation's assets have decreased from $235,382,790 in 2011 to $191,586,726 currently, reflecting a consistent draw-down of its endowment to cover expenses that exceed annual revenue.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation's revenue has declined by 48.8%, moving from $2.7M to $1.4M. Total assets decreased by 18.1% over the same period, from $235.4M to $192.7M. Total functional expenses fell by 7.9%, from $3.1M to $2.9M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation reported a deficit of $1.5M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $192.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $192.7M.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $1.4M $2.9M $192.7M $1 View 990
2022 $2.9M $8.1M $194.2M $1 View 990
2021 $2.1M $3.1M $199.4M $1 View 990
2020 $1.0M $2.5M $200.4M $103K View 990
2019 $836K $2.6M $201.8M $1 View 990
2015 $904K $3.0M $217.7M $75K View 990
2014 $442K $3.3M $220.8M $76K View 990
2013 $738K $3.1M $229.6M $106K View 990
2012 $688K $20.0M $232.2M $175K View 990
2011 $2.7M $3.1M $235.4M $148K View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

  • 2023: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $192.7M (revenue -52.4% year-over-year).
  • 2022: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $8.1M, and assets of $194.2M (revenue +34.3% year-over-year).
  • 2021: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $199.4M (revenue +105.6% year-over-year).
  • 2020: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $200.4M (revenue +25.1% year-over-year).
  • 2019: Revenue of $836K, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $201.8M (revenue -7.5% year-over-year).
  • 2015: Revenue of $904K, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $217.7M (revenue +104.7% year-over-year).
  • 2014: Revenue of $442K, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $220.8M (revenue -40.1% year-over-year).
  • 2013: Revenue of $738K, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $229.6M (revenue +7.2% year-over-year).
  • 2012: Revenue of $688K, expenses of $20.0M, and assets of $232.2M (revenue -74.4% year-over-year).
  • 2011: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $235.4M.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation:

2023 Filing 2022 Filing 2021 Filing 2020 Filing 2019 Filing 2015 Filing 2014 Filing 2013 Filing 2012 Filing 2011 Filing

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for The Robert Mapplethorpe 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.

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