Is Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa Legit?
Quick charity verification for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa (EIN: 10227743)
Verdict: Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$339KRevenue
$569KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Gradual decline in total assets over the past decade, from $689,946 in 201603 to $589,480 in 202403.
Occasional operational deficits, such as in 202403 where expenses ($189,409) exceeded revenue ($180,716).
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating volunteer leadership or very low administrative overhead.
Long and consistent IRS 990 filing history (12 filings), demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Liabilities have generally decreased over time, from $97,090 in 201403 to $44,239 in 202403, indicating good debt management.
Maintains a healthy asset base relative to its annual revenue and expenses.
Spending Breakdown
How Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa
Is Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa (EIN: 10227743) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa a good charity to donate to?
Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $339K. Assets: $569K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa is 10227743. 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 Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa spend its money?
Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa's tax-exempt status using EIN 10227743 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 Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa in Saco, ME, demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses generally in a similar range over the past decade. For the most recent period (202403), the organization reported revenues of $180,716 against expenses of $189,409, indicating a slight operational deficit. Assets have shown a gradual decline from a high of $689,946 in 201603 to $589,480 in 202403, while liabilities have generally decreased, suggesting prudent management of debt.
The organization's transparency is commendable, particularly regarding executive compensation, which has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings. This indicates that the organization is likely run by volunteers or that compensation falls below reporting thresholds, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The consistent reporting of financial data over many years enhances its transparency.
Overall, the organization appears to be financially stable, maintaining a healthy asset base relative to its operational scale. While there's a slight trend of declining assets, the reduction in liabilities helps mitigate this. The absence of reported officer compensation is a significant strength, suggesting a strong volunteer-driven model or very modest overhead in leadership. Further detail on expense allocation would provide a more complete picture of its programmatic impact.