William M Backer Foundation Inc

William M Backer Foundation shows consistent asset growth but recent year's expenses significantly outpaced revenue.

EIN: 133579157 · The Plains, VA · Updated: 2026-03-28

$4.8MRevenue

$7.5MAssets

85/100Mission Score (Excellent)

Is William M Backer Foundation Inc Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency

ExcellentSpending Efficiency

GoodTransparency

3 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

William M Backer Foundation Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About William M Backer Foundation Inc

William M Backer Foundation Inc (EIN: 133579157) is a nonprofit organization based in The Plains, VA. The organization reported total revenue of $4.8M and total assets of $7.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of William M Backer Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

The William M Backer Foundation Inc. demonstrates a consistent financial structure, primarily operating as a grant-making organization given its NTEE code is unknown and its expenses are generally lower than its assets. The foundation's assets have shown steady growth over the past decade, increasing from $4,438,904 in 2011 to $6,149,216 in 2023, indicating sound asset management. However, the latest filing (202307) shows expenses ($891,143) significantly exceeding revenue ($221,098), which could be a concern if it becomes a recurring trend, though it might also reflect a strategic increase in grant disbursements or investment losses in a particular year. 

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, as the provided data only includes total expenses. However, the consistent 'Officer Comp=0%' across all filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean operational structure, which is a positive indicator for minimizing administrative overhead. The foundation's liabilities have remained minimal, often reported as $1, which points to strong financial stability and low debt burden. 

Transparency is generally good given the availability of 10 years of IRS 990 filings. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a clear sign of transparency regarding executive pay. However, the lack of a specified NTEE code and detailed expense categories in the provided data limits a deeper analysis of its programmatic focus and spending efficiency. Further details from the full 990 forms would be needed to fully evaluate its program effectiveness and administrative costs.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates William M Backer Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 85 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: 10%
programs: 90%
fundraising: 0%

According to IRS 990 filings, William M Backer Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is highly efficient for an organization of its asset 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 William M Backer Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:

Significant expense-to-revenue deficit in the latest filing (202307), with expenses at $891,143 against revenue of $221,098.
NTEE code is unknown, limiting understanding of the organization's specific programmatic focus.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in provided data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency beyond total expenses.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for William M Backer Foundation Inc:

Consistent zero officer compensation across all filings, indicating highly efficient executive leadership costs.
Steady growth in assets over the past decade, from $4.4 million in 2011 to $6.1 million in 2023, demonstrating strong financial stewardship.
Minimal liabilities consistently reported as $1, indicating excellent financial stability and low debt.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings provided), suggesting good transparency and compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions about William M Backer Foundation Inc

Is William M Backer Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, William M Backer Foundation Inc (EIN: 133579157) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

How does William M Backer Foundation Inc spend its money?

William M Backer Foundation Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.

Are donations to William M Backer Foundation Inc tax-deductible?

William M Backer Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133579157). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

What is the primary mission or program area of the William M Backer Foundation Inc.?

The provided data does not specify the NTEE code or detailed program descriptions, making it difficult to ascertain the primary mission or program area. Further review of the full IRS 990 filings would be necessary.

Why did expenses significantly exceed revenue in the 202307 period ($891,143 expenses vs. $221,098 revenue)?

This could be due to a strategic increase in grant disbursements, significant investment losses, or a one-time major expenditure. Without detailed expense categories from the 202307 filing, the exact reason is unclear.

How does the foundation generate its revenue, given the fluctuations year-to-year?

The revenue fluctuates significantly, from a low of $221,098 in 2023 to a high of $994,696 in 2015. This suggests reliance on investment income, specific grants, or contributions that vary annually, rather than a consistent earned income stream.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for William M Backer Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), William M Backer Foundation Inc's revenue has declined by 62.4%, moving from $588K to $221K. Total assets increased by 38.5% over the same period, from $4.4M to $6.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 186.8%, from $311K to $891K. In its most recent filing year (2023), William M Backer Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $670K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $6.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $6.1M.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$221K	$891K	$6.1M	$1	—	View 990
2022	$564K	$281K	$6.8M	$1	—	View 990
2021	$639K	$525K	$6.5M	$1	—	—
2020	$339K	$490K	$6.4M	$1	—	—
2019	$353K	$514K	$6.6M	$1	—	View 990
2015	$995K	$432K	$5.9M	$1	—	View 990
2014	$747K	$382K	$5.3M	$1	—	View 990
2013	$841K	$377K	$4.9M	$0	—	View 990
2012	$399K	$367K	$4.5M	$0	—	View 990
2011	$588K	$311K	$4.4M	$0	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $221K, expenses of $891K, and assets of $6.1M (revenue -60.8% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $564K, expenses of $281K, and assets of $6.8M (revenue -11.8% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $639K, expenses of $525K, and assets of $6.5M (revenue +88.7% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $339K, expenses of $490K, and assets of $6.4M (revenue -4.2% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $353K, expenses of $514K, and assets of $6.6M (revenue -64.5% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $995K, expenses of $432K, and assets of $5.9M (revenue +33.2% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $747K, expenses of $382K, and assets of $5.3M (revenue -11.3% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $841K, expenses of $377K, and assets of $4.9M (revenue +110.9% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $399K, expenses of $367K, and assets of $4.5M (revenue -32.1% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $588K, expenses of $311K, and assets of $4.4M.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for William M Backer Foundation Inc 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.