Quick charity verification for Bellwether Community Credit Union (EIN: 20196520)
Verdict: Bellwether Community Credit Union shows mixed signals
50/100Mission Score
$29.4MRevenue
$599.4MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) on 990s, hindering efficiency analysis
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation on 990s, raising questions about executive pay transparency
Strengths
Consistent revenue growth, from $15.6M in 2014 to $28.7M in 2023, indicating financial stability.
Significant asset growth, from $408M in 2014 to $599M in 2023, demonstrating strong financial health.
Positive net income (Revenue - Expenses) in all reported years, showing operational surpluses.
Spending Breakdown
How Bellwether Community Credit Union 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 Bellwether Community Credit Union
Is Bellwether Community Credit Union a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bellwether Community Credit Union (EIN: 20196520) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 50/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Bellwether Community Credit Union a good charity to donate to?
Bellwether Community Credit Union has a Mission Score of 50/100. Revenue: $29.4M. Assets: $599.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Bellwether Community Credit Union?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Bellwether Community Credit Union is 20196520. 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 Bellwether Community Credit Union spend its money?
Bellwether Community Credit Union allocates 0% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Bellwether Community Credit Union's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Bellwether Community Credit Union's tax-exempt status using EIN 20196520 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
Bellwether Community Credit Union, as a credit union, operates under a different financial model than traditional charities. Its IRS Form 990 filings show consistent revenue growth, increasing from $15.6 million in 2014 to $28.7 million in 2023. The organization consistently reports zero officer compensation on its 990s, which is unusual for an organization of its size and implies that executive compensation is either not reported on the 990 or is structured differently, potentially through a related entity or as part of general employee salaries, which warrants further investigation for full transparency. The organization's assets have also grown significantly, from $408 million in 2014 to nearly $600 million in 2023, indicating financial stability and growth in its core operations. However, without a breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, a detailed assessment of spending efficiency is not possible from the provided 990 data.