True To Life Foundation
True To Life Foundation consistently operates with over $700,000 in annual revenue, showing recent asset growth despite minor operational deficits.
EIN: 161668183 · Chicago, IL · NTEE: O50 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Expenses | $1.2M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $257K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is True To Life Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
True To Life Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About True To Life Foundation
True To Life Foundation (EIN: 161668183) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL, classified under NTEE code O50. The organization reported total revenue of $0 and total assets of $288K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of True To Life Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
True To Life Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 8.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.1M |
| Total Expenses | $1.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-84,069 |
| Total Assets | $443K |
| Total Liabilities | $185K |
| Net Assets | $257K |
| Operating Margin | -7.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 41.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 4.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, True To Life Foundation reported a deficit of $84K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 4.4 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 41.8% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2010–2023), True To Life Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +11.8% | +15.5% | +10.0% |
| 2022 | +33.2% | +33.3% | -11.1% |
| 2021 | -4.7% | -7.4% | -8.8% |
| 2020 | -5.2% | +3.4% | +470.8% |
| 2019 | +9.3% | +4.9% | -37.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
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 True To Life Foundation with a Mission Score of 75 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: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, True To Life Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. 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 $84K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 41.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries or other compensation are paid to officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and suggests either volunteer leadership or compensation being reported under other expense categories.
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 True To Life Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits in most recent years (e.g., 2023 expenses $1,220,324 vs. revenue $1,136,255).
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, hindering full efficiency assessment.
- Unusual reporting of 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $1 million in annual expenses, raising questions about leadership compensation structure.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for True To Life Foundation:
- Consistent revenue generation, exceeding $700,000 annually for over a decade and reaching over $1.1 million in 2023.
- Significant growth in assets from $86,873 in 2019 to $442,545 in 2023, indicating improved financial stability.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (14 filings), suggesting a commitment to transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about True To Life Foundation
Is True To Life Foundation a legitimate charity?
True To Life Foundation (EIN: 161668183) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does True To Life Foundation spend its money?
True To Life Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to True To Life Foundation tax-deductible?
True To Life Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 161668183). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of True To Life Foundation's spending goes to programs?
True To Life Foundation directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does True To Life Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), True To Life Foundation is above average for NTEE category O50 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is True To Life Foundation located?
True To Life Foundation is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 161668183. It is classified under NTEE code O50.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does True To Life Foundation have?
True To Life Foundation 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.
How does True To Life Foundation manage to operate without reporting any officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is unusual for an organization with over $1 million in annual expenses. This could imply that leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is categorized differently within the financial statements, such as under general administrative expenses, which would require further investigation to understand fully.
What is the detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories. This information is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of spending efficiency and how effectively donor funds are being utilized towards the mission.
Why have expenses consistently exceeded revenue in recent years?
In 2023, expenses ($1,220,324) exceeded revenue ($1,136,255), and similar trends are observed in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014. While minor deficits can be managed, a consistent pattern could indicate a need for better financial planning or increased fundraising efforts to ensure long-term sustainability.
What caused the significant increase in assets from 2019 to 2023?
Assets increased from $86,873 in 2019 to $442,545 in 2023. Understanding the source of this growth, whether from accumulated surpluses, specific donations, or investments, would provide insight into the organization's financial strategy and stability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for True To Life Foundation showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), True To Life Foundation's revenue has grown by 181%, moving from $404K to $1.1M. Total assets increased by 157.4% over the same period, from $172K to $443K. Total functional expenses rose by 179.2%, from $437K to $1.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), True To Life Foundation reported a deficit of $84K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $185K in liabilities against $443K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 41.8%), resulting in net assets of $257K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $443K | $185K | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.0M | $1.1M | $402K | $61K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $763K | $793K | $452K | $70K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $800K | $856K | $496K | $211K | — | — |
| 2019 | $844K | $828K | $87K | $67K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $772K | $789K | $140K | $136K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $717K | $750K | $124K | $103K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $787K | $835K | $192K | $205K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $747K | $761K | $141K | $98K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $721K | $771K | $124K | $69K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $592K | $610K | $191K | $86K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $550K | $513K | $148K | $18K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $474K | $537K | $124K | $32K | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $404K | $437K | $172K | $10K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $443K (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $402K (revenue +33.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $763K, expenses of $793K, and assets of $452K (revenue -4.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $800K, expenses of $856K, and assets of $496K (revenue -5.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $844K, expenses of $828K, and assets of $87K (revenue +9.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $772K, expenses of $789K, and assets of $140K (revenue +7.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $717K, expenses of $750K, and assets of $124K (revenue -8.9% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $787K, expenses of $835K, and assets of $192K (revenue +5.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $747K, expenses of $761K, and assets of $141K (revenue +3.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $721K, expenses of $771K, and assets of $124K (revenue +21.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $592K, expenses of $610K, and assets of $191K (revenue +7.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $550K, expenses of $513K, and assets of $148K (revenue +15.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $474K, expenses of $537K, and assets of $124K (revenue +17.3% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $404K, expenses of $437K, and assets of $172K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for True To Life Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for True To Life 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.