Is American Federation Of Teachers Legit?

Quick charity verification for American Federation Of Teachers (EIN: 160767220)

Verdict: American Federation Of Teachers appears trustworthy

75/100Mission Score

$11.5MRevenue

$7.2MAssets

2Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, potentially obscuring executive pay if reported elsewhere

Strengths

Consistent revenue generation over the past decade
Effective expense management, often resulting in surpluses (e.g., 2023 revenue $4,175,126 vs. expenses $3,621,261)
Steady growth in assets from $3,747,077 in 2014 to $5,975,403 in 2023
Recent reduction in liabilities from a peak of $2,478,965 in 2020 to $1,223,550 in 2023

Spending Breakdown

How American Federation Of Teachers 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 American Federation Of Teachers

Is American Federation Of Teachers a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Federation Of Teachers (EIN: 160767220) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is American Federation Of Teachers a good charity to donate to?

American Federation Of Teachers has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $11.5M. Assets: $7.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for American Federation Of Teachers?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for American Federation Of Teachers is 160767220. 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 Federation Of Teachers spend its money?

American Federation Of Teachers allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify American Federation Of Teachers's tax-exempt status?

You can verify American Federation Of Teachers's tax-exempt status using EIN 160767220 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 Federation Of Teachers (AFT) demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses generally in close alignment over the past decade. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $4,175,126 against expenses of $3,621,261, indicating a surplus. While the organization's assets have shown a steady increase, from $3,747,077 in 2014 to $5,975,403 in 2023, liabilities have fluctuated, peaking at $2,478,965 in 2020 before decreasing to $1,223,550 in 2023. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests that executive compensation is either not paid to officers or is reported under different categories, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs if not clearly disclosed elsewhere.

The organization's financial health appears stable, with a positive net asset position and a trend of managing expenses within revenue limits in most years. The latest revenue of $11,490,260, significantly higher than the individual filing periods, suggests this figure might represent a consolidated or different reporting scope than the annual 990s provided. Without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency. However, the consistent operational scale over the years indicates a predictable financial environment.

Transparency regarding specific spending categories (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) is limited by the provided data. The absence of officer compensation in the provided data points for individual filings could be a red flag for transparency if not adequately explained in the full 990 documents. Overall, the AFT appears to be a financially stable organization based on the provided revenue, expense, and asset trends, but more detailed expense breakdowns would enhance the assessment of its spending efficiency and transparency.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.