The Train Foundation
The Train Foundation experiences a significant financial surge in 2023 with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 133391238 · Montclair, NJ · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $490K |
| Total Expenses | $152K |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $1.3M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is The Train Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Train Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Train Foundation
The Train Foundation (EIN: 133391238) is a nonprofit organization based in Montclair, NJ, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $490K and total assets of $1.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Train Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Train Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 38 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 12.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.2M |
| Total Expenses | $152K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$1.1M |
| Total Assets | $1.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $27K |
| Net Assets | $1.3M |
| Operating Margin | 87.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 2.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 104.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, The Train Foundation reported a surplus of $1.1M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 104.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 2.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), The Train Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +723.0% | +4.2% | +584.0% |
| 2022 | +5.1% | +32.6% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | +16.9% | +30.0% | +24.4% |
| 2020 | -18.8% | -47.8% | +20.1% |
| 2019 | -35.2% | -12.6% | -39.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1988 |
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 Train Foundation 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: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Train 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:
- The organization reported a surplus of $1.1M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 2.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Train Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers, which is highly favorable for directing funds to its mission.
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 Train Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in provided data makes efficiency assessment difficult.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Train Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating strong commitment to mission-focused spending.
- Significant growth in revenue and assets in the latest filing (202312), demonstrating increased financial capacity.
- Low liabilities relative to assets in the latest filing ($26,921 liabilities vs. $1,316,585 assets in 2023), indicating good financial stability.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Train Foundation
Is The Train Foundation a legitimate charity?
The Train Foundation (EIN: 133391238) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New Jersey. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $490K. 1 red flag identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does The Train Foundation spend its money?
The Train Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Train Foundation tax-deductible?
The Train Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133391238). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of The Train Foundation's spending goes to programs?
The Train Foundation directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does The Train Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), The Train Foundation is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is The Train Foundation located?
The Train Foundation is headquartered in Montclair, New Jersey and files with the IRS under EIN 133391238. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Train Foundation have?
The Train 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 $490K in total revenue.
What caused the significant increase in revenue and assets in the 2023 fiscal period?
The 2023 filing shows revenue of $1,211,081, a substantial increase from $147,162 in 2022, and assets of $1,316,585, up from $192,473. The specific source of this growth (e.g., a large grant, major donor, or successful campaign) is not detailed in the provided data but is a key area for further inquiry.
How does The Train Foundation manage its expenses given the fluctuating revenue?
Expenses have varied, for example, $151,522 in 2023 against $1,211,081 revenue, and $145,469 in 2022 against $147,162 revenue. The organization appears to maintain relatively stable expense levels even with revenue fluctuations, suggesting careful financial management, though the specific allocation of these expenses is not provided.
What is the organization's strategy for utilizing its growing asset base?
With assets growing to $1,316,585 in 2023, understanding whether these assets are held as reserves, invested for future growth, or earmarked for specific large-scale projects would provide insight into long-term financial planning.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Train Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Train Foundation's revenue has grown by 323.5%, moving from $286K to $1.2M. Total assets increased by 321.9% over the same period, from $312K to $1.3M. Total functional expenses fell by 54.2%, from $331K to $152K. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Train Foundation reported a surplus of $1.1M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $27K in liabilities against $1.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 2.0%), resulting in net assets of $1.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.2M | $152K | $1.3M | $27K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $147K | $145K | $192K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $140K | $110K | $187K | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $120K | $84K | $151K | $3K | — | — |
| 2019 | $148K | $162K | $125K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $228K | $185K | $207K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $128K | $206K | $372K | $206K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $301K | $214K | $264K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $350K | $469K | $186K | $32K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $286K | $331K | $312K | $38K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $152K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +723.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $147K, expenses of $145K, and assets of $192K (revenue +5.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $140K, expenses of $110K, and assets of $187K (revenue +16.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $120K, expenses of $84K, and assets of $151K (revenue -18.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $148K, expenses of $162K, and assets of $125K (revenue -35.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $228K, expenses of $185K, and assets of $207K (revenue +78.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $128K, expenses of $206K, and assets of $372K (revenue -57.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $301K, expenses of $214K, and assets of $264K (revenue -14.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $350K, expenses of $469K, and assets of $186K (revenue +22.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $286K, expenses of $331K, and assets of $312K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Train Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Train 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.