Quick charity verification for Amber Charter School (EIN: 134119814)
Verdict: Amber Charter School appears trustworthy
88/100Mission Score
$31.1MRevenue
$113.6MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Expenses exceeding revenue in recent fiscal years (e.g., 2023 and 2022), indicating potential operational deficits.
Significant increase in liabilities from $11.8M in 2022 to $109.5M in 2023, likely tied to the asset growth but warrants scrutiny regarding debt management.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong commitment to directing funds to mission.
Significant growth in assets and revenue over the past decade, demonstrating organizational expansion and capacity.
Long operational history with 13 IRS 990 filings, suggesting stability and established presence.
Spending Breakdown
How Amber Charter School allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Amber Charter School
Is Amber Charter School a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Amber Charter School (EIN: 134119814) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 88/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Amber Charter School a good charity to donate to?
Amber Charter School has a Mission Score of 88/100. Revenue: $31.1M. Assets: $113.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Amber Charter School?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Amber Charter School is 134119814. 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 Amber Charter School spend its money?
Amber Charter School allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Amber Charter School's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Amber Charter School's tax-exempt status using EIN 134119814 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
Amber Charter School demonstrates a consistent operational history with significant growth in revenue and assets over the past decade. While the organization's revenue has steadily increased from $6.9 million in 2014 to $27.1 million in 2023, expenses have often outpaced revenue in recent years, such as in 2023 where expenses were $28.5 million against $27.1 million in revenue, and in 2022 where expenses were $30.3 million against $28.0 million in revenue. This indicates a potential reliance on prior surpluses or other funding sources to cover operational costs. The substantial increase in assets to $120.1 million in 2023, particularly the jump from $23.8 million in 2022, suggests significant capital investment, likely in facilities, which is common for charter schools. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings indicates that the highest-ranking executives are not directly compensated, which is a strong positive for transparency and resource allocation directly to the mission.