Is Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation Legit?
Quick charity verification for Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation (EIN: 141722046)
Verdict: Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$97KRevenue
$1.4MAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Inconsistent expense reporting with $0 expenses in some years (e.g., 2023, 2021), making financial analysis difficult.
Consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities, which is an unusual accounting practice.
Significant decline in assets over the past decade (from $3.1M in 2011 to $1.2M in 2023) without clear explanation in provided data.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a lean administrative structure or volunteer leadership.
Low liabilities, suggesting strong financial solvency with minimal debt.
Consistent filing of IRS 990s, demonstrating commitment to public transparency.
Spending Breakdown
How Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
95%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
5%
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 Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation
Is Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation (EIN: 141722046) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $97K. Assets: $1.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation is 141722046. 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 Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation spend its money?
Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation allocates 95% to programs, 5% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 141722046 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 Bernard And Ella Saul Charitable Foundation appears to operate primarily as a grant-making entity, as indicated by its fluctuating expenses and consistent low liabilities. The foundation's financial health shows significant variability in revenue and expenses over the past decade. For instance, in 2023, it reported $70,808 in revenue with $0 expenses, while in 2022, it had $21,345 in revenue against $701,551 in expenses. This suggests that the foundation may disburse grants in large, infrequent cycles rather than having consistent operational spending. Its assets have also seen a decline from $3,132,908 in 2011 to $1,289,194 in 2023, which could be due to significant grant distributions or investment performance.
The foundation's spending efficiency is difficult to assess in a traditional sense due to the '0 expenses' reported in some years (e.g., 2023, 2021). When expenses are reported, they are often substantial, indicating significant program-related disbursements. The consistent reporting of $0 officer compensation across all filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean administrative structure, which is a positive indicator for minimizing overhead. However, without a clear breakdown of program vs. administrative vs. fundraising expenses, a precise efficiency ratio cannot be calculated.
In terms of transparency, the foundation consistently files its IRS 990s, providing public access to its financial data. The consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across all filings is unusual and might warrant further investigation to understand its accounting practices, though it generally indicates a very strong financial position with minimal debt. The lack of reported officer compensation enhances its transparency regarding executive pay. However, the absence of detailed expense categories in the provided data makes it challenging to fully understand where funds are allocated beyond the aggregate expense figures.