Is Asa Of West Michigan Legit?

Quick charity verification for Asa Of West Michigan (EIN: 205196939)

Verdict: Asa Of West Michigan appears trustworthy

75/100Mission Score

$268KRevenue

$115KAssets

2Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Frequent years with expenses exceeding revenue, indicating potential reliance on reserves (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015).
Fluctuating asset base, with a notable drop from $141,923 in 2021 to $68,967 in 2022, then a recovery to $123,220 in 2023, suggesting inconsistent financial growth or significant expenditures.

Strengths

Consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings), demonstrating strong transparency and compliance.
0% reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds and potentially volunteer leadership.
Maintained operations for over a decade with consistent revenue streams, showing organizational resilience.

Spending Breakdown

How Asa Of West Michigan 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 Asa Of West Michigan

Is Asa Of West Michigan a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Asa Of West Michigan (EIN: 205196939) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Asa Of West Michigan a good charity to donate to?

Asa Of West Michigan has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $268K. Assets: $115K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Asa Of West Michigan?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Asa Of West Michigan is 205196939. 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 Asa Of West Michigan spend its money?

Asa Of West Michigan allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Asa Of West Michigan's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Asa Of West Michigan's tax-exempt status using EIN 205196939 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

Asa Of West Michigan demonstrates a consistent operational pattern, with revenues and expenses generally in a similar range over the past decade, averaging around $250,000 annually. The organization has experienced several years where expenses exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($272,720 expenses vs. $242,464 revenue) and 2022 ($286,368 expenses vs. $269,558 revenue), indicating a reliance on prior reserves or other funding sources to cover operational gaps. While assets have fluctuated, they generally remain modest relative to annual expenses, with the latest reported assets at $114,730 against $267,893 in latest revenue. The organization's liabilities have also varied, reaching a high of $110,754 in 2023, which is a significant portion of its assets for that period.

The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a positive indicator for donor confidence, suggesting that leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation on the 990, which enhances the perception of efficiency. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories in the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The NTEE code S41 (Recreational, Sports, Leisure, & Athletics) suggests a program-heavy operational model, but this cannot be confirmed solely from the provided financial summaries.

In terms of transparency, the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods is a strong positive, indicating adherence to regulatory requirements and making financial data publicly accessible. The lack of officer compensation is a notable strength. However, to fully assess financial health and spending efficiency, more detailed expense breakdowns would be beneficial. The organization's ability to manage periods of deficit spending while maintaining operations suggests a degree of financial resilience, but also highlights the importance of stable funding.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

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