William Randolph Hearst Foundation
William Randolph Hearst Foundation maintains robust assets and zero officer compensation amidst fluctuating investment income.
EIN: 136019226 · New York, NY · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $69.1M |
| Total Expenses | $61.8M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $841.1M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is William Randolph Hearst Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
William Randolph Hearst Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About William Randolph Hearst Foundation
William Randolph Hearst Foundation (EIN: 136019226) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $69.1M and total assets of $942.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of William Randolph Hearst Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
William Randolph Hearst Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 77 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023).
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $78.5M |
| Total Expenses | $61.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$16.8M |
| Total Assets | $863.5M |
| Total Liabilities | $22.4M |
| Net Assets | $841.1M |
| Operating Margin | 21.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 2.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 167.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, William Randolph Hearst Foundation reported a surplus of $16.8M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 167.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 2.6% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -124.6% | +14.9% | -21.6% |
| 2021 | -0.7% | -55.7% | +9.6% |
| 2020 | +7.5% | +104.2% | +6.9% |
| 2019 | +92.1% | +4.1% | +23.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1949 |
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 Randolph Hearst Foundation with a Mission Score of 90 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: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, William Randolph Hearst Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. With 90% 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 surplus of $16.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 2.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers either receive no compensation from the foundation or their compensation is covered by an affiliated entity, which is highly favorable for a foundation of this 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 Randolph Hearst Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant revenue volatility, including negative revenue in 2022, indicating reliance on potentially unstable investment income.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for William Randolph Hearst Foundation:
- Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds for its mission.
- Maintains a very strong asset base, growing from $519,511,991 in 2011 to $942,659,590 in the latest period.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, demonstrating strong financial stability.
- Consistent filing history over a decade, indicating transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Is William Randolph Hearst Foundation a legitimate charity?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation (EIN: 136019226) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $69.1M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does William Randolph Hearst Foundation spend its money?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to William Randolph Hearst Foundation tax-deductible?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136019226). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of William Randolph Hearst Foundation's spending goes to programs?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation directs 90% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does William Randolph Hearst Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), William Randolph Hearst 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 Randolph Hearst Foundation located?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 136019226. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does William Randolph Hearst Foundation have?
William Randolph Hearst 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 $69.1M in total revenue.
Is the William Randolph Hearst Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided data, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation appears to be a very good charity. It maintains substantial assets ($942,659,590), consistently reports 0% officer compensation, and demonstrates strong financial management, indicating a high potential for impactful grant-making.
How does the foundation manage its assets?
The foundation has significantly grown its assets from $519,511,991 in 2011 to $942,659,590 in the latest period, suggesting effective investment strategies, despite occasional negative revenue periods like $-22,498,294 in 2022, likely due to market fluctuations.
What is the trend in the foundation's revenue?
The foundation's revenue is highly variable, ranging from $92,096,829 in 2020 to $-22,498,294 in 2022, and $78,532,237 in 2023. This volatility suggests a significant reliance on investment returns, which can fluctuate year-to-year.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for William Randolph Hearst Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Total assets increased by 66.2% over the same period, from $519.5M to $863.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), William Randolph Hearst Foundation reported a surplus of $16.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $22.4M in liabilities against $863.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 2.6%), resulting in net assets of $841.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $78.5M | $61.8M | $863.5M | $22.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $-22,498,294 | $42.8M | $755.1M | $6.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $91.5M | $37.2M | $963.2M | $13.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $92.1M | $84.1M | $878.6M | $18.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $85.7M | $41.2M | $822.0M | $12.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $44.6M | $39.6M | $666.6M | $14.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $47.1M | $33.8M | $702.1M | $11.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $69.5M | $33.0M | $690.2M | $13.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $60.7M | $33.7M | $599.3M | $13.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $0 | $0 | $519.5M | $10.3M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $78.5M, expenses of $61.8M, and assets of $863.5M.
- 2022: Revenue of $-22,498,294, expenses of $42.8M, and assets of $755.1M (revenue -124.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $91.5M, expenses of $37.2M, and assets of $963.2M (revenue -0.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $92.1M, expenses of $84.1M, and assets of $878.6M (revenue +7.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $85.7M, expenses of $41.2M, and assets of $822.0M (revenue +92.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $44.6M, expenses of $39.6M, and assets of $666.6M (revenue -5.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $47.1M, expenses of $33.8M, and assets of $702.1M (revenue -32.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $69.5M, expenses of $33.0M, and assets of $690.2M (revenue +14.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $60.7M, expenses of $33.7M, and assets of $599.3M.
- 2011: Revenue of $0, expenses of $0, and assets of $519.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for William Randolph Hearst Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for William Randolph Hearst 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.