Is Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa Legit?

Quick charity verification for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa (EIN: 10505529)

Verdict: Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa shows mixed signals

65/100Mission Score

$141KRevenue

$400KAssets

4Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Consistent operational deficits where expenses exceed revenue (e.g., 2024: $117,937 expenses vs. $87,664 revenue).
Gradual decline in total assets over the past decade (from $558,016 in 2016 to $416,043 in 2024).
Significant liabilities relative to assets, indicating potential financial leverage or debt burden.
NTEE code is unknown, limiting clarity on primary programmatic focus and mission alignment.

Strengths

100% volunteer leadership with 0% officer compensation reported across all filings.
Long filing history (13 filings) indicates consistent reporting and compliance.
Maintains a consistent asset base, albeit declining, suggesting some financial resilience.

Spending Breakdown

How Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

70%

Program Spending

Below average — room for improvement

20%

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: 10505529) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 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 65/100. Revenue: $141K. Assets: $400K. 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 10505529. 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 70% to programs, 20% 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 10505529 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 York, ME, appears to be a local chapter with a relatively stable, albeit modest, financial footprint. Over the past decade, its revenue has fluctuated, with a notable dip in 2015 to negative revenue, but generally staying within the $64,000 to $157,000 range. Expenses have consistently exceeded revenue in several recent periods, such as 2024 ($117,937 expenses vs. $87,664 revenue) and 2023 ($97,431 expenses vs. $78,307 revenue), indicating an operational deficit in those years. This trend suggests the organization may be drawing down on its assets or relying on prior surpluses to cover current operations.

Asset levels have shown a gradual decline over the past decade, from $558,016 in 2016 to $416,043 in 2024, while liabilities have remained substantial, ranging from $286,929 to $373,640. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings indicates a volunteer-driven leadership, which is a positive sign for minimizing administrative overhead. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses beyond total expenses, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency, particularly the allocation between programs, administration, and fundraising. The NTEE code being unknown also limits a clear understanding of its primary programmatic focus.

Overall, the organization demonstrates a commitment to volunteer leadership, but its financial health shows signs of strain with recurring operational deficits and declining assets. Improved transparency regarding expense allocation would provide a clearer picture of its spending efficiency and programmatic impact. The organization's ability to sustain its operations in the long term, given the consistent expense over revenue, warrants closer monitoring.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

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