Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity consistently operates near break-even with minimal assets and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 208244917 · Memphis, TN · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $61K |
| Total Expenses | $59K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $2K |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity (EIN: 208244917) is a nonprofit organization based in Memphis, TN. The organization reported total revenue of $61K and total assets of $4K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity is a micro nonprofit that has been operating for 86 years, with 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -2.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $61K |
| Total Expenses | $59K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$1K |
| Total Assets | $4K |
| Total Liabilities | $2K |
| Net Assets | $2K |
| Operating Margin | 2.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 47.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 0.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity reported a surplus of $1K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 0.8 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 47.8% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 11 years of filings (2012–2023), Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -16.0% | -17.7% | +41.1% |
| 2022 | -10.2% | -10.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | -4.2% | -4.2% | +289100.0% |
| 2020 | +2.8% | +6.6% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | +121682.1% | +115638.2% | +0.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1940 |
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 Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). 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: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. 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 $1K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 47.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through non-officer roles, which is a positive for minimizing administrative overhead relative to its modest revenue.
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 Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistently low asset base, often $1 or $2, indicating minimal financial reserves.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown in provided data, hindering full spending efficiency analysis.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity:
- Consistent operation near break-even, indicating responsible financial management of incoming funds.
- 0% reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting a volunteer-driven leadership or very low administrative overhead.
- Stable revenue generation over multiple years, generally ranging from $60,000 to $120,000.
Frequently Asked Questions about Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity
Is Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity a legitimate charity?
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity (EIN: 208244917) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Tennessee. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $61K. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity spend its money?
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity tax-deductible?
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208244917). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity's spending goes to programs?
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity located?
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee and files with the IRS under EIN 208244917.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity have?
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity has 11 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 $61K in total revenue.
What are the specific program activities funded by Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity?
The provided IRS 990 data does not detail specific program activities. Further investigation into the organization's public statements or full 990 forms would be needed to understand how its expenses translate into program delivery.
Why are the organization's assets consistently so low, often $1 or $2, despite annual revenues ranging from $60,000 to $120,000?
The consistently low asset base, often reported as $1 or $2 in several periods (e.g., 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020), suggests that the organization spends nearly all its revenue each year and maintains very little in reserves or fixed assets. This could indicate a focus on immediate program delivery or a lack of long-term financial planning for asset accumulation.
Does the organization have any significant fundraising costs, given the lack of detailed expense breakdowns?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories. While officer compensation is 0%, the overall expense figures are very close to revenue, suggesting that most funds are expended annually, but the allocation to fundraising specifically is not discernible from this summary.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity's revenue has declined by 26.1%, moving from $82K to $61K. Total assets increased by 104% over the same period, from $2K to $4K. Total functional expenses fell by 20.6%, from $75K to $59K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity reported a surplus of $1K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $2K in liabilities against $4K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 47.8%), resulting in net assets of $2K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $61K | $59K | $4K | $2K | — | — |
| 2022 | $72K | $72K | $3K | $0 | — | — |
| 2021 | $80K | $80K | $3K | $0 | — | — |
| 2020 | $84K | $84K | $1 | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $82K | $79K | $1 | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $67 | $68 | $1 | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $90K | $81K | $9K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $89K | $89K | $1 | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $121K | $103K | $8K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $125K | $107K | $18K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $82K | $75K | $2K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $61K, expenses of $59K, and assets of $4K (revenue -16.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $72K, expenses of $72K, and assets of $3K (revenue -10.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $80K, expenses of $80K, and assets of $3K (revenue -4.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $84K, expenses of $84K, and assets of $1 (revenue +2.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $82K, expenses of $79K, and assets of $1 (revenue +121682.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $67, expenses of $68, and assets of $1 (revenue -99.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $90K, expenses of $81K, and assets of $9K (revenue +0.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $89K, expenses of $89K, and assets of $1 (revenue -26.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $121K, expenses of $103K, and assets of $8K (revenue -3.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $125K, expenses of $107K, and assets of $18K (revenue +52.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $82K, expenses of $75K, and assets of $2K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity 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.