Quick charity verification for Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 (EIN: 203954920)
Verdict: Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$4.4MRevenue
$11.4MAssets
1Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in summary data
Strengths
Consistent asset growth, increasing from $3.5M in 2011 to $9.9M in 2023.
Very low expense ratio relative to revenue, indicating efficient operations (e.g., 2023 expenses were 47.5% of revenue).
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting high transparency and potentially volunteer leadership.
Minimal liabilities reported ($0 or $1 across all filings), indicating strong financial management and low debt.
Consistent filing history over a decade, demonstrating good governance and compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 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 Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768
Is Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 (EIN: 203954920) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 a good charity to donate to?
Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $4.4M. Assets: $11.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 is 203954920. 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 Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 spend its money?
Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768 allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Bell Foundation Inc 1025874768's tax-exempt status using EIN 203954920 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
Bell Foundation Inc demonstrates strong financial health and consistent growth in assets over the past decade, increasing from $3.5 million in 2011 to over $9.9 million in 2023. The organization consistently spends a low percentage of its revenue on expenses, indicating efficient operations. For example, in 2023, expenses were $577,510 against revenues of $1,216,396, suggesting a significant portion of revenue is retained or invested. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all available filings indicates a high degree of transparency regarding executive pay and suggests that leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which is a positive sign for donor confidence.
The foundation's financial strategy appears to prioritize asset growth and long-term sustainability, as evidenced by the substantial difference between revenue and expenses in most years. While this indicates fiscal prudence, a detailed breakdown of program spending versus administrative and fundraising costs is not explicitly provided in the summary data, making a precise assessment of spending efficiency challenging without further detail. However, the overall low expense ratio relative to revenue suggests that a significant portion of funds is either directly applied to programs or reinvested to support future programmatic activities. The consistent and minimal liabilities also point to sound financial management.