Trott Family Foundation
Trott Family Foundation reports $1 in assets and $34M in expenses in latest filing, raising significant financial questions.
EIN: 133919816 · Chicago, IL · NTEE: T20Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.4M |
| Total Expenses | $34.2M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $0 |
| Transparency Score | 40/100 |
Is Trott Family Foundation Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Trott Family Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Trott Family Foundation
Trott Family Foundation (EIN: 133919816) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL, classified under NTEE code T20Z. The organization reported total revenue of $2.4M and total assets of $1 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Trott Family Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Trott Family Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 28 years, with 8 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2021). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.4M |
| Total Expenses | $34.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-31,847,833 |
| Total Assets | $1 |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $0 |
| Operating Margin | -1329.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 100.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 0.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: D
In 2021, Trott Family Foundation reported a deficit of $31.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 0.0 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 100.0% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 8 years of filings (2011–2021), Trott Family Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +13.4% | +276.3% | -100.0% |
| 2020 | -79.8% | +41.3% | -25.6% |
| 2019 | +174.9% | +53.4% | +95.9% |
| 2015 | +168.7% | +382.8% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | +20.8% | -72.3% | +4.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1998 |
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 Trott Family Foundation with a Mission Score of 40 out of 100 (Fair). 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, Trott Family 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 (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $31.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 100.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all filings, indicating that officers are not compensated directly by the foundation, which is a positive for minimizing overhead.
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 Trott Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Assets dropped from over $20 million to $1 in the latest filing (202106).
- Expenses ($34,243,706) vastly exceeded revenue ($2,395,873) and reported assets ($1) in 202106.
- Highly unusual financial structure with $1 in assets and liabilities for a foundation with multi-million dollar expenses.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Trott Family Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds for leadership.
- Historically maintained significant asset levels (e.g., $27,296,163 in 201908).
Frequently Asked Questions about Trott Family Foundation
Is Trott Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Trott Family Foundation (EIN: 133919816) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 40/100. It has 8 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.4M. 3 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: D.
How does Trott Family Foundation spend its money?
Trott Family Foundation directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Trott Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Trott Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133919816). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Trott Family Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Trott Family Foundation directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Trott Family Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 40/100 (Fair), Trott Family Foundation is near average for NTEE category T20Z nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Trott Family Foundation located?
Trott Family Foundation is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 133919816. It is classified under NTEE code T20Z.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Trott Family Foundation have?
Trott Family Foundation has 8 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 $2.4M in total revenue.
Why did the Trott Family Foundation's assets drop from $20,309,425 in 202008 to $1 in 202106?
The provided data does not explain this drastic reduction. It could indicate a significant asset transfer, a major liquidation, or a reporting error. Further investigation into the full IRS 990 form for 202106 would be required.
How did the foundation incur $34,243,706 in expenses in 202106 with only $2,395,873 in revenue and $1 in assets?
This discrepancy suggests either a substantial one-time grant or program expenditure funded by prior reserves or external sources not classified as 'revenue' in the summary, or a significant financial event that is not fully transparent in the provided data. It's a major red flag requiring detailed review of the full financial statements.
Is the Trott Family Foundation financially stable given its latest filing?
Based on the 202106 filing showing $1 in assets and expenses far exceeding revenue, the foundation's financial stability appears highly questionable. This specific filing presents a concerning picture, though historical data shows a more robust asset base.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Trott Family Foundation showing financial trends over 8 years of public records:
Over 8 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2021), Trott Family Foundation's revenue has grown by 24.1%, moving from $1.9M to $2.4M. Total assets decreased by 100% over the same period, from $16.2M to $1. Total functional expenses rose by 1146.2%, from $2.7M to $34.2M. In its most recent filing year (2021), Trott Family Foundation reported a deficit of $31.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $1 in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 100.0%), resulting in net assets of $0.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2.4M | $34.2M | $1 | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.1M | $9.1M | $20.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $10.5M | $6.4M | $27.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.8M | $4.2M | $13.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.4M | $869K | $14.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.2M | $3.1M | $13.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.2M | $3.7M | $15.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.9M | $2.7M | $16.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2021: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $34.2M, and assets of $1 (revenue +13.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $9.1M, and assets of $20.3M (revenue -79.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $10.5M, expenses of $6.4M, and assets of $27.3M (revenue +174.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $13.9M (revenue +168.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $869K, and assets of $14.3M (revenue +20.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $13.8M (revenue -63.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $3.7M, and assets of $15.7M (revenue +67.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $16.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Trott Family Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Trott Family 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.