The John Ernest Foundation

IRS exemption revoked

San Francisco, CAUnknown exempt organizationEIN 94-3170824Revenue $59K in FY2021

On file with the IRStjef.org572 12th Avenue · San Francisco, CA

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To turn a dream into a reality. To plant ideas, imagine unorthodox relationships, nurture a passion and devise and audit realistic budgets.

68¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
Revoked
IRS exemption revoked
Concern: the IRS revoked its tax exemption.
IRS Auto-Revocation List
Latest return
FY2021
latest Form 990
Concern: the latest return is for FY2021, 5 tax years back; more than 4 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $25K a year · 43% of revenue · last 2 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
68%
of spending
Fine: 68% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$59K
-0.9% vs prior year
Spent
$120K
To programs
68%
Net assets
$12K
By yearFY2020–FY2021
Revenue
$59K
FY2021▼ -0.9%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$59K
FY2021$59K
Expenses
$120K
FY2021▲ +146%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$49K
FY2021$120K
Net assets
$12K
FY2021▼ -83%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$74K
FY2021$12K

From the FY2021 Form 990 · see the original

Form 990 (PDF) Claim
IRS revoked this organization's tax-exempt status on May 15, 2025

Is it real?

No. The IRS revoked its tax exemption. Latest filing on record: FY2021.

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

Where the money goes

68 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 68% · $82K Management & general 32% · $38K

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

11 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See The John Ernest Foundation executive salaries →

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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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps people turn dreams into reality by planting ideas and creating realistic budgets.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $82K · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Encouraged and supported organizations and individuals to work with mentors.

$82Kprogram expense
02

The john ernest foundation provided a sponsorship to the opensym as well as guidance on growth, fiduciary and strategic matters.

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 · this organization's grantmaking
Grants paid · 2 grants · $52K · 2021–2021
Unitemized GrantFY2021$21,950

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$59K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$59K
Investment incomeLn 3$40
Money outPt IX
$120K
Ln 25
Programscol B$82K
Managementcol C$38K
Owns and owesPt X
$12K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12K
Total assetsLn 16$12K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$59K
Investment incomeLn 3$40
Total revenueLn 12$59K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$12K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$12K
Total assetsLn 16$12K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$12K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$74K$12K
Total assetsLn 16$74K$12K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$74K$12K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$30K$30K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$22K$22K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$2K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$35K$35K
Accounting feesLn 11c$2K$2K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$10K$10K
TravelLn 17$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$13K$13K$543
All other expensesLn 24e$225$225
Total functional expensesLn 25$120K$82K$38K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2021 Latest Viewing $59K$120K−$61K$12K 990 PDF
FY2020 $59K$49K$11K$74K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $58,840 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $59,322$58,800
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $80$40
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $59,402$58,840
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$53,950
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 $48,878$66,056
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $48,878$120,006
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $10,524−$61,166
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $58,840 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$58,800
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$58,800
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $40$40
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $40$58,840
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $120,006 across 10 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $30,000$30,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $21,950$21,950
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $2,000$2,000
IX-11a Management feesManagement $35,000$35,000
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $2,268$2,268
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $10,000$10,000
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,500$1,500
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,850$3,850
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $12,670 · Management $543$13,213
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $225$225
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $82,195 · Management $37,811 · Fundraising $0$120,006
Part X · Balance sheet $12,359 assets, 7 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $73,525$12,359
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $73,525$12,359
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $36,366$11,895
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $37,159$464
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $73,525$12,359
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $73,525$12,359
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $12,359 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$58,840
XI-2 Total expenses$120,006
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$61,166
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$73,525
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$12,359

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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