Build-A-Bear Foundation INC FY2023 filing

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Build-A-Bear Foundation seeks to add a little more heart to life by sharing hugs and making days a little bit brighter for those in need.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
94¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $161K a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
94%
of spending
Looks good: 94% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.1M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 4.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $50K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$136K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
0
of 12 voting members
Concern: none of 12 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
-20% vs prior year
Spent
$2.2M
To programs
94%
Net assets
$2.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2023▼ -20%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$697K
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.5M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$2.0M
Expenses
$2.2M
FY2023▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$1.7M
Net assets
$2.1M
FY2023▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$963K
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.2M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.4M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 2003.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

94 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 94% · $2.1M Management & general 6% · $128K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

1 person listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
See Attached
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Build-A-Bear Foundation INC executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Shares hugs and brightens days for those in need.

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3 programs · $2.1M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Health, Wellness and Literacy Program

Donations to charitable organizations to support their efforts in health, wellness and literacy programs.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Associate Disaster Relief

Donations to individuals supporting babw associates in need of financial relief.

$29Kprogram expense
03

Associate Scholarship

Donations to babw associates and family members who applied and were accepted to receive the scholarships.

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2022
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 56 grants · $5.5M · 2020–2024
First BookDC · FY2024$1,000,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$30,379
National Urban League INCNY · FY2024$10,000
Pflag INCDC · FY2024$10,000
First BookDC · FY2023$1,014,312
Unitemized GrantFY2023$28,559
National Urban League INCNY · FY2023$20,000
See all 56 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$41K
Money outPt IX
$2.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.1M
Managementcol C$128K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$750K
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$136K
PeoplePt VI, VII
1
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b0
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$202K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$45K
Investment incomeLn 3$41K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$750K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$750K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$332K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$7K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$136K
Net assetsLn 32$2.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Grants to other countriesSch F Pt II–III$124K
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$202K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M$750K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$983K$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$228K$136K
Net assetsLn 32$2.2M$2.1M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.9M$1.9M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$29K$29K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$153K$153K
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$0
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$13K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$108K$108K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$0
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$7K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.2M$2.1M$128K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Aug 20, 2025 $2.0M$1.7M$296K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 ViewingFiled with the IRS Aug 14, 2024 $2.0M$2.2M−$245K$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Aug 1, 2023 $2.5M$2.0M$464K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Jul 8, 2022 $1.8M$1.0M$804K$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Sep 2, 2021 $697K$1.2M−$514K$963K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,993,273 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,321,078$1,952,400
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $13,878$40,873
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $172,290$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,507,246$1,993,273
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,893,510$2,109,961
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $0$0
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $149,286$128,248
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,042,796$2,238,209
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $464,450−$244,936
Part VI · Governance 0 of 12 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members0
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,993,273 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$45,250
VIII-1d Related organizations$401,494
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,505,656
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$202,045
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,952,400
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $40,873$40,873
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $40,873$1,993,273
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,238,209 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,928,821$1,928,821
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $28,559$28,559
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $152,581$152,581
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staff$0
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wages$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxes$0
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $13,365$13,365
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $108,033$108,033
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expenses$0
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 Insurance$0
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $6,850$6,850
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,109,961 · Management $128,248 · Fundraising $0$2,238,209
Part X · Balance sheet $2,195,249 assets, 30 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $0$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,008,039$750,110
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $434,864$331,893
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key peopleStart of year $0$0
X-6 Loans to other insidersStart of year $0$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,067$7,088
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $982,537$1,106,158
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,432,507$2,195,249
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $0$0
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $134,000$35,000
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-21 Escrow or custodial accountsStart of year $0$0
X-22 Loans from officers and insidersStart of year $0$0
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $93,600$101,010
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $227,600$136,010
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,018,432$1,828,854
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $186,475$230,385
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,204,907$2,059,239
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,432,507$2,195,249
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,059,239 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,993,273
XI-2 Total expenses$2,238,209
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$244,936
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,204,907
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$99,268
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,059,239

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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