Wal Mart Foundation
Wal Mart Foundation consistently grants over $130 million annually with no executive compensation.
EIN: 205639919 · Bentonville, AR · NTEE: T21 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Wal Mart Foundation Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Wal Mart Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Wal Mart Foundation
Wal Mart Foundation (EIN: 205639919) is a nonprofit organization based in Bentonville, AR, classified under NTEE code T21. The organization reported total revenue of $114.9M and total assets of $23.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Wal Mart Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Wal Mart Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -2.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $132.0M |
| Total Expenses | $132.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-502,242 |
| Total Assets | $30.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $7.8M |
| Net Assets | $22.5M |
| Operating Margin | -0.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 25.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 2.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2024, Wal Mart Foundation reported a deficit of $502K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 2.7 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 25.6% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2012–2024), Wal Mart Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -1.2% | +0.1% | +24.3% |
| 2023 | +2.0% | +2.6% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | -17.2% | -18.4% | -14.4% |
| 2021 | +23.4% | +18.8% | -13.7% |
| 2020 | +35.9% | +3.6% | +12.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
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 Wal Mart Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 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: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Wal Mart Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $502K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 25.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly unusual and suggests a strong commitment to directing all funds to programmatic activities or that executive functions are covered by Walmart Inc. directly.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Wal Mart Foundation:
- Consistent high volume of philanthropic activity, with annual expenses often exceeding $130 million.
- Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating high efficiency and dedication of funds to mission.
- Healthy asset-to-liability ratio, demonstrating strong financial stability (e.g., $30,282,854 assets vs. $7,750,998 liabilities in 202401).
- Stable financial operations with revenues generally matching expenses over time, avoiding significant deficits.
- Excellent transparency regarding executive compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wal Mart Foundation
Is Wal Mart Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Wal Mart Foundation (EIN: 205639919) appears legitimate. Mission Score: 95/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Wal Mart Foundation spend its money?
Wal Mart Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Wal Mart Foundation tax-deductible?
Wal Mart Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205639919). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is the Wal Mart Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided data, the Wal Mart Foundation appears to be a highly effective and transparent philanthropic organization. Its consistent granting of over $130 million annually, coupled with 0% officer compensation, suggests a strong commitment to its mission and efficient use of funds.
How does the Wal Mart Foundation manage its executive leadership without compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is notable. This could imply that executive functions are performed on a pro bono basis, or more likely, that the compensation for individuals serving in officer roles is covered by Walmart Inc. directly, thereby not being reported as an expense of the Foundation itself.
What is the trend in the Wal Mart Foundation's assets and liabilities?
The Foundation's assets have fluctuated, reaching a high of $40,732,556 in 201501 and most recently reported at $30,282,854 in 202401. Liabilities have also varied, from a low of $1,320,741 in 202301 to a high of $27,450,813 in 201501. In the latest period, assets comfortably exceed liabilities ($30,282,854 vs. $7,750,998), indicating financial stability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Wal Mart Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2024), Wal Mart Foundation's revenue has declined by 24%, moving from $173.6M to $132.0M. Total assets increased by 0.7% over the same period, from $30.1M to $30.3M. Total functional expenses fell by 24.6%, from $175.7M to $132.5M. In its most recent filing year (2024), Wal Mart Foundation reported a deficit of $502K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $7.8M in liabilities against $30.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 25.6%), resulting in net assets of $22.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $132.0M | $132.5M | $30.3M | $7.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $133.6M | $132.4M | $24.4M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $131.0M | $129.0M | $25.5M | $3.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $158.2M | $158.2M | $29.8M | $10.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $128.2M | $133.1M | $34.5M | $14.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $94.3M | $128.4M | $30.8M | $6.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $179.3M | $168.2M | $40.7M | $27.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $169.1M | $169.1M | $18.6M | $16.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $182.6M | $182.9M | $21.2M | $18.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $173.6M | $175.7M | $30.1M | $25.2M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $132.0M, expenses of $132.5M, and assets of $30.3M (revenue -1.2% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $133.6M, expenses of $132.4M, and assets of $24.4M (revenue +2.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $131.0M, expenses of $129.0M, and assets of $25.5M (revenue -17.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $158.2M, expenses of $158.2M, and assets of $29.8M (revenue +23.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $128.2M, expenses of $133.1M, and assets of $34.5M (revenue +35.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $94.3M, expenses of $128.4M, and assets of $30.8M (revenue -47.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $179.3M, expenses of $168.2M, and assets of $40.7M (revenue +6.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $169.1M, expenses of $169.1M, and assets of $18.6M (revenue -7.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $182.6M, expenses of $182.9M, and assets of $21.2M (revenue +5.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $173.6M, expenses of $175.7M, and assets of $30.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Wal Mart Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Wal Mart 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.