Is Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa Legit?
Quick charity verification for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa (EIN: 10435204)
Verdict: Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
3Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Occasional operating deficits (e.g., 2021: $25,019 revenue vs. $28,050 expenses)
Liabilities sometimes exceed assets (e.g., 2014: $5,312 assets vs. $18,075 liabilities)
Limited financial reserves
Strengths
Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings
Volunteer-driven leadership
Consistent IRS Form 990 filing history (9 filings)
Modest administrative overhead implied by volunteer leadership
Spending Breakdown
How Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 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: 10435204) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 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: $0. Assets: $0. 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 10435204. 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 85% to programs, 15% to administration, and 0% 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 10435204 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 (Wells, ME) appears to be a very small, local chapter with limited financial activity. Over the past decade, its annual revenue has fluctuated between approximately $19,000 and $57,000, with expenses generally tracking closely. For instance, in 2021, the organization reported $25,019 in revenue against $28,050 in expenses, indicating a slight deficit. Assets have remained modest, peaking at $16,765 in 2018, and liabilities have varied, sometimes exceeding assets, as seen in 2014 ($5,312 assets vs. $18,075 liabilities). This financial profile suggests a grassroots operation, likely relying on local membership dues and small-scale fundraising.
Given the data, the organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates a volunteer-driven leadership, which is a positive sign for minimizing administrative overhead. The organization's transparency is good in terms of filing its IRS Form 990s consistently, with nine filings available. The lack of significant revenue or assets suggests it operates on a very lean budget, typical for small fraternal organizations.
Overall, the financial health appears stable for its size, though it often operates close to its break-even point or with minor deficits. The absence of paid executive compensation is a strong indicator of efficient use of funds for its stated purpose, even if the specific program spending details are not granularly available. The organization's consistent filing history demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.