Is Acorn Productions Legit?

Red Flags

Latest filing shows $0 revenue and $0 assets, indicating potential inactivity or cessation of operations.
Liabilities consistently exceeded assets in active years (e.g., $18,154 liabilities vs. $3,454 assets in 2015), suggesting financial instability.
Significant and consistent decline in revenue over several years, from $128,591 in 2011 to $35,654 in 2015.

Spending Breakdown

How Acorn Productions allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

Fundraising

Within typical range

How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.

How to Interpret This Report

What Red Flags Mean

Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.

What Mission Score Measures

The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.

Using This Data for Donation Decisions

Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Acorn Productions

Is Acorn Productions a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Acorn Productions (EIN: 10519659) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 50/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is Acorn Productions a good charity to donate to?

Acorn Productions has a Mission Score of 50/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Acorn Productions?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Acorn Productions is 10519659. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.

What is a Mission Score?

The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.

How does Acorn Productions spend its money?

Acorn Productions allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Acorn Productions's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Acorn Productions's tax-exempt status using EIN 10519659 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.

AI Transparency Report

Acorn Productions appears to be a very small, community-focused arts organization that has experienced a significant decline in financial activity over the past few years. Its latest filing shows $0 in revenue and assets, suggesting it may be inactive or in the process of winding down. In previous years, its revenue fluctuated, peaking at $128,591 in 2011 and declining to $35,654 by 2015. The organization consistently reported zero officer compensation, which is a positive sign for a small nonprofit, indicating that leadership was likely volunteer-based or minimally compensated.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, in periods where expenses were close to revenue, such as 2015 (expenses $34,304 vs. revenue $35,654), it suggests most funds were being utilized. The organization's liabilities often exceeded its assets, for example, $18,154 in liabilities against $3,454 in assets in 2015, which could indicate financial strain or reliance on short-term funding. The lack of recent financial activity raises concerns about its current operational status and long-term viability.

Transparency, based on the provided data, is reasonable given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s. However, the absence of detailed expense categories (program, admin, fundraising) in the summary limits a deeper analysis of how funds were allocated. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a transparent practice that benefits smaller organizations. The current $0 revenue and assets, while transparently reported, signal a significant operational change or cessation.

Verdict: Acorn Productions shows mixed signals