William S Paley Foundation Inc
William S Paley Foundation Inc. maintains substantial assets and reports no officer compensation, with fluctuating but generally strong revenues.
EIN: 136085929 · Jefferson Vly, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is William S Paley Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
William S Paley Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About William S Paley Foundation Inc
William S Paley Foundation Inc (EIN: 136085929) is a nonprofit organization based in Jefferson Vly, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $18.3M and total assets of $177.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of William S Paley Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
William S Paley Foundation Inc is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 75 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 17.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $34.6M |
| Total Expenses | $27.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$7.1M |
| Total Assets | $165.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $89.5M |
| Net Assets | $75.7M |
| Operating Margin | 20.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 54.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 71.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, William S Paley Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $7.1M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 71.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 54.2% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), William S Paley Foundation Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -11.3% | -4.6% | +13.5% |
| 2022 | +167.3% | +221.2% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | -12.4% | +15.7% | +12.4% |
| 2020 | +87.1% | -5.2% | +9.5% |
| 2019 | +22.8% | +38.1% | +12.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1951 |
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 S Paley 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, William S Paley Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% 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 $7.1M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 54.2%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers either serve on a purely voluntary basis or are compensated by an affiliated entity, which is a positive sign for minimizing overhead costs directly from the foundation's funds.
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 S Paley Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of NTEE code in provided data, limiting understanding of specific mission area
- Absence of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, hindering precise efficiency analysis
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for William S Paley Foundation Inc:
- Consistent asset growth over the past decade, indicating strong financial management
- 0% reported officer compensation, suggesting highly efficient leadership costs
- Revenues generally exceed expenses, allowing for asset accumulation and sustained operations
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating regulatory compliance and basic transparency
- Substantial asset base ($165,236,989 in 2023) provides long-term stability
Frequently Asked Questions about William S Paley Foundation Inc
Is William S Paley Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, William S Paley Foundation Inc (EIN: 136085929) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does William S Paley Foundation Inc spend its money?
William S Paley Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to William S Paley Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
William S Paley Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136085929). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is William S Paley Foundation Inc. financially stable?
Yes, the foundation appears financially stable, with assets consistently growing from $90,413,581 in 2011 to $165,236,989 in 2023, and revenues generally exceeding expenses.
How does the foundation manage executive compensation?
The foundation reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, suggesting a highly efficient approach to leadership costs, possibly through volunteer efforts or external support.
What is the trend in the foundation's revenue?
Revenue has shown significant fluctuations, ranging from a low of $4,984,843 in 2011 to a high of $39,042,056 in 2022, indicating variability in its income sources, likely from investments or large grants.
Are the foundation's liabilities a concern?
While liabilities are substantial, reaching $89,536,213 in 2023, they are consistently well-covered by the foundation's much larger asset base of $165,236,989, indicating no immediate financial distress.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for William S Paley Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), William S Paley Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 595%, moving from $5.0M to $34.6M. Total assets increased by 82.8% over the same period, from $90.4M to $165.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 329.6%, from $6.4M to $27.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), William S Paley Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $7.1M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $89.5M in liabilities against $165.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 54.2%), resulting in net assets of $75.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $34.6M | $27.6M | $165.2M | $89.5M | — | — |
| 2022 | $39.0M | $28.9M | $145.6M | $94.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $14.6M | $9.0M | $152.4M | $108.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $16.7M | $7.8M | $135.7M | $95.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $8.9M | $8.2M | $123.9M | $86.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $7.3M | $5.9M | $109.9M | $77.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $17.7M | $10.2M | $120.2M | $83.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $7.3M | $8.9M | $121.7M | $83.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $7.6M | $7.0M | $99.9M | $68.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $5.0M | $6.4M | $90.4M | $62.8M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $34.6M, expenses of $27.6M, and assets of $165.2M (revenue -11.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $39.0M, expenses of $28.9M, and assets of $145.6M (revenue +167.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $14.6M, expenses of $9.0M, and assets of $152.4M (revenue -12.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $16.7M, expenses of $7.8M, and assets of $135.7M (revenue +87.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $8.9M, expenses of $8.2M, and assets of $123.9M (revenue +22.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $7.3M, expenses of $5.9M, and assets of $109.9M (revenue -59.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $17.7M, expenses of $10.2M, and assets of $120.2M (revenue +141.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $7.3M, expenses of $8.9M, and assets of $121.7M (revenue -2.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $7.6M, expenses of $7.0M, and assets of $99.9M (revenue +51.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $6.4M, and assets of $90.4M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for William S Paley 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.