Quick charity verification for American Legion (EIN: 16029183)
Verdict: American Legion shows mixed signals
50/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
2Red Flags
1Strengths
Red Flags
Zero reported revenue and assets, indicating potential inactivity or lack of significant operations.
No financial activity to analyze for program efficiency or financial health.
Strengths
Filed IRS 990, demonstrating basic compliance for a non-profit entity.
Spending Breakdown
How American Legion allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
0%
Program Spending
Concerning — less than half to programs
0%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Legion
Is American Legion a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Legion (EIN: 16029183) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 50/100. 2 red flags identified, 1 strength noted.
Is American Legion a good charity to donate to?
American Legion 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 American Legion?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for American Legion is 16029183. 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 Legion spend its money?
American Legion allocates 0% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify American Legion's tax-exempt status?
You can verify American Legion's tax-exempt status using EIN 16029183 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
Based on the provided IRS 990 data, The American Legion in Southwest Harbor, ME, reports $0 in both revenue and assets. This indicates a very small, potentially inactive, or newly formed entity that has not yet engaged in significant financial activity. Without any reported financial transactions, it is impossible to assess its spending efficiency or financial health. The lack of financial data also limits the ability to evaluate its transparency beyond the fact that it has filed an IRS 990, which is a basic step in transparency for non-profits. Further investigation would be needed to understand the operational status and financial activities, if any, of this specific American Legion post.