Quick charity verification for American Cancer Society Inc (EIN: 131788491)
Verdict: American Cancer Society Inc appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$3.2BRevenue
$1.7BAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Recurring operating deficits (e.g., $99.4M in 2023, $10.5M in 2019, $25M in 2017, $54M in 2016, $91M in 2015).
Consistent reporting of 0% for Officer Compensation, which may obscure actual executive pay.
Significant fluctuations in annual revenue and expenses, indicating potential volatility in financial operations.
Strengths
Maintains a very strong asset base, consistently above $1.6 billion, providing financial stability.
Demonstrates a large scale of operations with annual revenues consistently in the hundreds of millions.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (14 filings), indicating consistent reporting.
Spending Breakdown
How American Cancer Society Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 American Cancer Society Inc
Is American Cancer Society Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Cancer Society Inc (EIN: 131788491) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is American Cancer Society Inc a good charity to donate to?
American Cancer Society Inc has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $3.2B. Assets: $1.7B. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for American Cancer Society Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for American Cancer Society Inc is 131788491. 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 American Cancer Society Inc spend its money?
American Cancer Society Inc allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify American Cancer Society Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify American Cancer Society Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 131788491 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
The American Cancer Society Inc. demonstrates a generally stable financial position with assets consistently above $1.6 billion over the past decade, reaching $1.8 billion in 2023. However, the organization has experienced periods of operating deficits, notably in 2023 where expenses ($756,272,604) exceeded revenue ($656,838,115) by nearly $100 million. This trend of expenses sometimes outpacing revenue is also visible in 2019, 2017, 2016, and 2015, indicating a need for careful management of spending relative to incoming funds. Despite these fluctuations, the organization maintains substantial assets, suggesting a strong financial foundation built over time.
Regarding spending efficiency, without detailed functional expense breakdowns from the provided data, it's challenging to precisely assess program efficiency. However, the consistent high revenue figures and substantial asset base suggest a large-scale operation. The organization's ability to maintain significant assets while incurring occasional deficits points to reliance on reserves or investment income to cover operational gaps. Transparency regarding the allocation of these funds, particularly the proportion dedicated directly to programs versus administrative and fundraising costs, would be crucial for a comprehensive evaluation.
One notable aspect is the consistent reporting of 0% for Officer Compensation across all provided filings. While this might indicate that compensation for officers is reported under different categories or that the specific line item for 'Officer Comp' on the provided summary is not capturing the full picture, it warrants further investigation for complete transparency. A clear breakdown of how executive leadership is compensated is a key indicator of financial transparency and accountability for a nonprofit of this size.