William Davidson Foundation
William Davidson Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation while maintaining over $1 billion in assets.
EIN: 203899187 · Bloomfld Hls, MI · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $406.4M |
| Total Expenses | $71.8M |
| Program Spending | 95% |
| Net Assets | $1.1B |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Is William Davidson Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
William Davidson Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About William Davidson Foundation
William Davidson Foundation (EIN: 203899187) is a nonprofit organization based in Bloomfld Hls, MI, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $406.4M and total assets of $1.1B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of William Davidson Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
William Davidson Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -14.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $28.5M |
| Total Expenses | $71.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-43,366,105 |
| Total Assets | $1.1B |
| Total Liabilities | $4K |
| Net Assets | $1.1B |
| Operating Margin | -152.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 184.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, William Davidson Foundation reported a deficit of $43.4M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 184.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), William Davidson Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -14.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -34.3% | -4.4% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | -66.0% | +10.0% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | +174.6% | +7.7% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | +1.1% | -6.6% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | +32854.4% | +7.7% | +42.9% |
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 William Davidson Foundation with a Mission Score of 92 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, William Davidson 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 (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $43.4M, 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 received compensation from the foundation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and asset base, suggesting a very lean administrative structure or alternative compensation arrangements not reported as officer compensation.
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 William Davidson Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually high expenses relative to revenue in some periods (e.g., 2023 expenses $71.8M vs. revenue $28.4M) could indicate significant drawdowns on the endowment or substantial grantmaking, which is typical for a private foundation but warrants understanding the funding source.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization of this size and could suggest compensation is reported under other categories or through related entities, which might obscure a full picture of administrative costs.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for William Davidson Foundation:
- Exceptional financial health with over $1 billion in assets, demonstrating long-term sustainability.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a strong commitment to directing resources to programmatic activities.
- Significant grantmaking activity, as evidenced by substantial expenses in relation to revenue in several periods (e.g., $71.8M in expenses in 2023), fulfilling its mission as a private foundation.
- Strong asset growth over time, from $351M in 2011 to over $1.1B currently, reflecting effective endowment management.
Frequently Asked Questions about William Davidson Foundation
Is William Davidson Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, William Davidson Foundation (EIN: 203899187) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does William Davidson Foundation spend its money?
William Davidson Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to William Davidson Foundation tax-deductible?
William Davidson Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203899187). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does William Davidson Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 92/100 (Excellent), William Davidson Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is William Davidson Foundation located?
William Davidson Foundation is headquartered in Bloomfld Hls, Michigan and files with the IRS under EIN 203899187. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does William Davidson Foundation have?
William Davidson 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 $406.4M in total revenue.
Is the William Davidson Foundation a good charity?
As a private foundation, its 'goodness' is measured by its grantmaking impact. Financially, it appears very strong with over $1 billion in assets and a consistent 0% officer compensation, suggesting resources are directed towards its mission. Its NTEE code T22 indicates it is a private grantmaking foundation, meaning its primary activity is distributing funds to other organizations rather than direct program delivery.
How does the foundation manage to have 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. This could indicate that officers are compensated by an affiliated entity, serve on a purely voluntary basis, or that compensation is structured in a way that does not fall under the 'officer compensation' category on the 990 form.
What is the trend in the foundation's assets?
The foundation's assets have shown significant growth, from $351,199,596 in 2011 to over $1.1 billion in recent years, peaking at $1,142,078,960. This indicates strong financial management and endowment growth.
Why do expenses sometimes exceed revenue?
As a private foundation, expenses often exceed annual revenue because they primarily make grants from their endowment, which is built from past contributions and investment returns. For example, in 2023, expenses were $71,829,529 while revenue was $28,463,424, demonstrating significant grantmaking activity from its substantial asset base.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for William Davidson Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), William Davidson Foundation's revenue has declined by 83.8%, moving from $176.2M to $28.5M. Total assets increased by 215.1% over the same period, from $351.2M to $1.1B. Total functional expenses rose by 339.8%, from $16.3M to $71.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), William Davidson Foundation reported a deficit of $43.4M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $4K in liabilities against $1.1B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $1.1B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $28.5M | $71.8M | $1.1B | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $43.3M | $75.2M | $1.1B | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $127.3M | $68.3M | $1.1B | $11K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $46.3M | $63.4M | $1.1B | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $45.8M | $67.9M | $1.1B | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $139K | $63.0M | $765.3M | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $382.5M | $54.1M | $828.1M | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $127.1M | $51.1M | $503.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $116.6M | $20.2M | $447.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $176.2M | $16.3M | $351.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $28.5M, expenses of $71.8M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -34.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $43.3M, expenses of $75.2M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -66.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $127.3M, expenses of $68.3M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +174.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $46.3M, expenses of $63.4M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +1.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $45.8M, expenses of $67.9M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +32854.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $139K, expenses of $63.0M, and assets of $765.3M (revenue -100.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $382.5M, expenses of $54.1M, and assets of $828.1M (revenue +201.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $127.1M, expenses of $51.1M, and assets of $503.5M (revenue +9.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $116.6M, expenses of $20.2M, and assets of $447.5M (revenue -33.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $176.2M, expenses of $16.3M, and assets of $351.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for William Davidson Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for William Davidson 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.