Quick charity verification for American School In London Foundation (EIN: 136258480)
Verdict: American School In London Foundation appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$20.4MRevenue
$2.4MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant decline in assets from $18M in 2014 to $3.4M in 2023 without clear explanation in summary data.
Expenses frequently exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016), indicating potential reliance on reserves or other funding sources.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Consistent revenue generation over $19 million annually, indicating a stable funding base.
Spending Breakdown
How American School In London Foundation 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 American School In London Foundation
Is American School In London Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American School In London Foundation (EIN: 136258480) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is American School In London Foundation a good charity to donate to?
American School In London Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $20.4M. Assets: $2.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for American School In London Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for American School In London Foundation is 136258480. 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 School In London Foundation spend its money?
American School In London Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify American School In London Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify American School In London Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 136258480 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 School In London Foundation demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses generally in the range of $19-29 million over the past decade. The organization's assets have fluctuated significantly, peaking at over $18 million in 2014 and declining to $3.4 million in 2023, which warrants further investigation into the nature of these assets and the reasons for their reduction. While the organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a positive indicator for resource allocation, the overall financial health shows a pattern of expenses often exceeding revenues in several years, such as in 2022 ($19,463,128 expenses vs. $19,085,987 revenue) and 2021 ($20,476,623 expenses vs. $19,764,628 revenue). This trend suggests a reliance on prior year surpluses or other funding sources to cover operational costs.
The foundation's transparency is bolstered by its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, with 13 filings available, indicating a commitment to public disclosure. The absence of officer compensation is a strong point for efficiency, as it suggests that leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990. However, without a detailed breakdown of functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) in the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The significant decrease in assets from $18 million in 2014 to $3.4 million in 2023, while liabilities have remained relatively stable, could indicate substantial capital expenditures, investment losses, or a shift in financial strategy, which would be important for a donor to understand.
Overall, the organization appears to be financially stable in terms of its ability to generate revenue and cover expenses, albeit with some years showing deficits. The lack of officer compensation is a notable strength. However, the substantial reduction in assets over time and the absence of detailed spending ratios in the provided data limit a full assessment of its financial health and spending efficiency. Further analysis of the full 990 forms would be necessary to understand the allocation of expenses and the reasons behind the asset fluctuations.