Is Art Station Legit?

Red Flags

Consistent deficits in multiple years (e.g., 202312, 202212, 202012) could indicate unsustainable spending patterns.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data limits full financial efficiency assessment.
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings could indicate a lack of transparency if executives are compensated but not reported as such.

Spending Breakdown

How Art Station 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 Art Station

Is Art Station a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Art Station (EIN: 200259486) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Art Station a good charity to donate to?

Art Station has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $1.0M. Assets: $180K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Art Station?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Art Station is 200259486. 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 Art Station spend its money?

Art Station allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Art Station's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Art Station's tax-exempt status using EIN 200259486 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

Art Station demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses generally in close proximity over the past decade. In the most recent filing (202312), the organization reported revenues of $936,359 against expenses of $1,063,814, indicating a deficit for that period. This trend of expenses sometimes exceeding revenue is observed in several years, such as 202212 ($885,653 revenue vs. $901,577 expenses) and 202012 ($926,685 revenue vs. $952,226 expenses). However, there are also periods of surplus, like 202112 ($1,006,929 revenue vs. $918,767 expenses). The organization's assets have fluctuated, reaching a high of $343,639 in 202112 and currently standing at $190,241 in 202312, which is a modest amount relative to its annual operating budget. Liabilities have generally been low or zero, indicating a healthy balance sheet in that regard.

Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to provide a precise assessment. However, the consistent operation around the $1 million revenue mark suggests a stable, albeit sometimes tight, financial management. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a significant indicator of either a volunteer-led executive team or compensation being reported under other expense categories, which could impact transparency if not clearly disclosed elsewhere. The organization's consistent filing history over 13 periods demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency in reporting its financial activities to the IRS.

Verdict: Art Station appears trustworthy