Wessel Foundation
Wessel Foundation consistently operates with minimal liabilities and no officer compensation, but often spends more than its annual revenue.
EIN: 136277807 · Washington, DC · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $47K |
| Total Expenses | $27K |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $120K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Wessel Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Wessel Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Wessel Foundation
Wessel Foundation (EIN: 136277807) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. The organization reported total revenue of $47K and total assets of $120K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Wessel Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Wessel Foundation is a micro nonprofit that has been operating for 58 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2022). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 11.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $23K |
| Total Expenses | $27K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-4,014 |
| Total Assets | $120K |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $120K |
| Operating Margin | -17.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 53.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2022, Wessel Foundation reported a deficit of $4K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 53.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2011–2022), Wessel Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -29.0% | +3.7% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | +32.9% | +61.3% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | +215.9% | -19.1% | +6.6% |
| 2019 | -59.0% | -5.5% | -10.9% |
| 2015 | -51.7% | +38.9% | -1.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1968 |
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 Wessel 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: 25%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Wessel Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 25%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 5%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $4K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers or key employees receive salaries from the foundation, which is highly efficient for an organization of its 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 Wessel Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue, potentially drawing down assets (e.g., 2022: $26,872 expenses vs. $22,858 revenue).
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data makes efficiency analysis difficult.
- NTEE code is unknown, hindering understanding of its charitable sector and mission.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Wessel Foundation:
- Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating very low executive overhead.
- Extremely low liabilities ($0 or $1 across all filings), demonstrating strong financial solvency.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating compliance and basic transparency.
- Assets have remained relatively stable over a decade, suggesting a solid capital base for its size.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wessel Foundation
Is Wessel Foundation a legitimate charity?
Wessel Foundation (EIN: 136277807) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Washington DC. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $47K. 3 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Wessel Foundation spend its money?
Wessel Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Wessel Foundation tax-deductible?
Wessel Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136277807). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Wessel Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Wessel Foundation directs 70% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Wessel Foundation located?
Wessel Foundation is headquartered in Washington, Washington DC and files with the IRS under EIN 136277807.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Wessel Foundation have?
Wessel Foundation has 9 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 $47K in total revenue.
Is Wessel Foundation financially sustainable given its expense trends?
The Wessel Foundation has frequently reported expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., $26,872 expenses vs. $22,858 revenue in 2022; $19,870 expenses vs. $7,669 revenue in 2019). While its assets have remained relatively stable, this pattern suggests it may be drawing down its principal or relying on investment gains not fully reflected in 'revenue' to cover operational costs. Long-term sustainability would depend on its investment performance and future fundraising efforts.
What is the primary purpose of the Wessel Foundation?
Based solely on the provided financial data, the specific mission or program activities of the Wessel Foundation cannot be determined. The NTEE code is unknown, and no program expense details are available, making it impossible to ascertain its primary purpose from this information alone.
How does the Wessel Foundation manage its assets?
The foundation's assets have fluctuated but remained within a range of approximately $116,958 to $140,593 over the past decade. The consistent reporting of minimal liabilities ($0 or $1) indicates prudent financial management regarding debt. However, the specific investment strategies or asset allocation are not detailed in this summary.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Wessel Foundation showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2022), Wessel Foundation's revenue has grown by 216.9%, moving from $7K to $23K. Total assets decreased by 10.6% over the same period, from $134K to $120K. Total functional expenses rose by 32.6%, from $20K to $27K. In its most recent filing year (2022), Wessel Foundation reported a deficit of $4K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $120K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $120K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $23K | $27K | $120K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $32K | $26K | $124K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $24K | $16K | $131K | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $8K | $20K | $123K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $19K | $21K | $138K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $39K | $15K | $141K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $11K | $19K | $117K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $7K | $16K | $125K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $7K | $20K | $134K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2022: Revenue of $23K, expenses of $27K, and assets of $120K (revenue -29.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $32K, expenses of $26K, and assets of $124K (revenue +32.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $24K, expenses of $16K, and assets of $131K (revenue +215.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $8K, expenses of $20K, and assets of $123K (revenue -59.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $19K, expenses of $21K, and assets of $138K (revenue -51.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $39K, expenses of $15K, and assets of $141K (revenue +242.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $11K, expenses of $19K, and assets of $117K (revenue +61.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $7K, expenses of $16K, and assets of $125K (revenue -2.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $7K, expenses of $20K, and assets of $134K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Wessel Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Wessel 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.