William & Karen Tell Foundation
William & Karen Tell Foundation: Declining Assets, Minimal Program Spending
EIN: 222777617 · Wilmington, DE · Updated: 2026-04-04
Is William & Karen Tell Foundation Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
About William & Karen Tell Foundation
William & Karen Tell Foundation (EIN: 222777617) is a nonprofit organization based in Wilmington, DE. The organization reported total revenue of $2.0M and total assets of $3.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of William & Karen Tell Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
William & Karen Tell Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 39 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -21.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $8K |
| Total Expenses | $250K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-242,169 |
| Total Assets | $3.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $3.3M |
| Operating Margin | -2939.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 160.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, William & Karen Tell Foundation reported a deficit of $242K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 160.5 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 & Karen Tell Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -21.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -131.5% | -39.8% | -7.8% |
| 2021 | -34.1% | +8.1% | -8.0% |
| 2020 | +24.7% | -36.6% | -5.6% |
| 2019 | -83.1% | +42.7% | -4.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1987 |
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 & Karen Tell 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: 100%
- programs: 0%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, William & Karen Tell Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 100%, programs: 0%, fundraising: 0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $242K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation cannot be assessed as the provided data consistently shows $0 for compensation, indicating no paid employees or officers.
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 & Karen Tell Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% program spending raises significant concerns about charitable impact.
- Assets have steadily declined from $4,481,322 in 2019 to $3,348,969 in 2023.
- Lack of detailed program descriptions or grant recipient information.
- The foundation's purpose and activities are unclear given the spending breakdown.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for William & Karen Tell Foundation:
- Minimal liabilities reported across all years, indicating good financial solvency in that regard.
Frequently Asked Questions about William & Karen Tell Foundation
Is William & Karen Tell Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, William & Karen Tell Foundation (EIN: 222777617) significant concerns. Mission Score: 40/100. 4 red flags identified, 1 strength noted.
How does William & Karen Tell Foundation spend its money?
Detailed spending breakdown data is not yet available for William & Karen Tell Foundation. Check back for updated IRS 990 analysis.
Are donations to William & Karen Tell Foundation tax-deductible?
William & Karen Tell Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 222777617). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What does William & Karen Tell Foundation do?
William & Karen Tell Foundation is a nonprofit organization in the Unknown sector, located in Wilmington, Delaware. It is classified under NTEE code Unknown.
How much revenue does William & Karen Tell Foundation have?
William & Karen Tell Foundation reported total revenue of $1,962,379. Based on 10 IRS 990 filings on record.
What are William & Karen Tell Foundation's total assets?
William & Karen Tell Foundation holds total assets of $3,361,445 as reported in IRS 990 filings.
Where is William & Karen Tell Foundation located?
William & Karen Tell Foundation is based in Wilmington, Delaware.
What is William & Karen Tell Foundation's EIN?
William & Karen Tell Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 222777617. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS for tax-exempt organizations.
What type of nonprofit is William & Karen Tell Foundation?
William & Karen Tell Foundation is classified under NTEE code Unknown (Unknown).
Is William & Karen Tell Foundation a registered 501(c)(3)?
William & Karen Tell Foundation appears in IRS records (EIN: 222777617). Check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for the most current determination letter status.
Does William & Karen Tell Foundation file IRS Form 990?
Yes, William & Karen Tell Foundation has 10 IRS Form 990 filings on record. The most recent covers tax period 202312.
What was William & Karen Tell Foundation's revenue in 2023?
In the 202312 filing period, William & Karen Tell Foundation reported total revenue of $8,238, total expenses of $250,407, and net assets of $3,348,969.
Is William & Karen Tell Foundation's revenue growing or declining?
William & Karen Tell Foundation's revenue is relatively stable. Revenue went from $-33,757 (202212) to $8,238 (202312), a 0.0% change. Based on 10 filings on record.
What is William & Karen Tell Foundation's most recent 990 filing?
The most recent IRS Form 990 filing for William & Karen Tell Foundation covers tax period 202312. It shows revenue of $8,238, expenses of $250,407, total assets of $3,348,969, and liabilities of $1.
Is William & Karen Tell Foundation a trustworthy charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 data, William & Karen Tell Foundation shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 40/100 (Fair). 4 red flags identified. 1 strength noted.
What are the red flags for William & Karen Tell Foundation?
The following concerns were identified: Consistent 0% program spending raises significant concerns about charitable impact.. Assets have steadily declined from $4,481,322 in 2019 to $3,348,969 in 2023.. Lack of detailed program descriptions or grant recipient information.. The foundation's purpose and activities are unclear given the spending breakdown.. These flags are based on automated analysis of IRS 990 public filings and should be verified independently.
What are William & Karen Tell Foundation's strengths?
Positive indicators for William & Karen Tell Foundation include: Minimal liabilities reported across all years, indicating good financial solvency in that regard.. These findings are derived from AI analysis of the organization's financial filings.
How does William & Karen Tell Foundation compensate executives?
Executive compensation cannot be assessed as the provided data consistently shows $0 for compensation, indicating no paid employees or officers. Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require disclosure of officer, director, and key employee pay.
Given the consistent 0% program spending and 100% administrative expenses, what is the actual charitable purpose and activity of the William & Karen Tell Foundation?
Based on the provided financial data, the foundation does not appear to engage in direct program spending. Its expenditures are entirely administrative, which suggests it may function primarily as a holding entity or a pass-through for funds not detailed in these filings, or its charitable activities are not categorized as 'program service expenses' in the standard way.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for William & Karen Tell Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), William & Karen Tell Foundation's revenue has declined by 94.7%, moving from $155K to $8K. Total assets decreased by 13.6% over the same period, from $3.9M to $3.3M. Total functional expenses fell by 40.4%, from $420K to $250K. In its most recent filing year (2023), William & Karen Tell Foundation reported a deficit of $242K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $3.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $3.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $8K | $250K | $3.3M | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $-33,757 | $268K | $3.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $107K | $446K | $3.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $163K | $412K | $4.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $130K | $651K | $4.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $771K | $456K | $4.7M | $21K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $700K | $559K | $4.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $904K | $486K | $4.2M | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $353K | $420K | $3.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $155K | $420K | $3.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $8K, expenses of $250K, and assets of $3.3M.
- 2022: Revenue of $-33,757, expenses of $268K, and assets of $3.6M (revenue -131.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $107K, expenses of $446K, and assets of $3.9M (revenue -34.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $163K, expenses of $412K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue +24.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $130K, expenses of $651K, and assets of $4.5M (revenue -83.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $771K, expenses of $456K, and assets of $4.7M (revenue +10.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $700K, expenses of $559K, and assets of $4.4M (revenue -22.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $904K, expenses of $486K, and assets of $4.2M (revenue +156.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $353K, expenses of $420K, and assets of $3.8M (revenue +127.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $155K, expenses of $420K, and assets of $3.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for William & Karen Tell Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for William & Karen Tell 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.