Is Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust Legit?
Quick charity verification for Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust (EIN: 16144341)
Verdict: Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust shows mixed signals
40/100Mission Score
$768KRevenue
$25Assets
4Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Significant operating deficit in 2021 ($181,608).
Drastic depletion of assets from $181,633 in 2020 to $25 in 2021.
Inconsistent revenue, with a notable drop from over $1 million in 2019-2020 to $767,932 in 2021.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary data, hindering full efficiency assessment.
Strengths
Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms over 11 periods, indicating compliance.
Reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, suggesting low executive overhead.
Spending Breakdown
How Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust
Is Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust (EIN: 16144341) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 40/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust a good charity to donate to?
Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust has a Mission Score of 40/100. Revenue: $768K. Assets: $25. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust is 16144341. 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 Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust spend its money?
Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust's tax-exempt status using EIN 16144341 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
Afscme Council 93 Membership Benefit Trust appears to be in a precarious financial position based on its latest filing. In 2021, the organization reported revenue of $767,932 but incurred expenses of $949,540, resulting in a significant deficit. This trend of expenses exceeding revenue is concerning, especially when compared to previous years where the organization generally operated with a surplus or a smaller deficit. The most alarming figure is the drastic reduction in assets from $181,633 in 2020 to a mere $25 in 2021, indicating a substantial depletion of its financial reserves.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent lack of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a potential strength in minimizing executive overhead, or that compensation is structured differently and not reported as 'officer compensation'. The significant drop in assets and the operating deficit in 2021 raise serious questions about its long-term sustainability and ability to continue its mission effectively.
Transparency is moderately good in terms of consistent filing, but the lack of detailed expense categories makes it challenging for external stakeholders to understand how funds are allocated. The sudden and dramatic decrease in assets warrants further investigation to understand the underlying causes and the organization's plan to address this financial instability. Without more granular data on spending, it's hard to definitively comment on its efficiency beyond the overall financial health.