Is Birch Wathen Lenox School Legit?

Quick charity verification for Birch Wathen Lenox School (EIN: 133603578)

Verdict: Birch Wathen Lenox School shows mixed signals

65/100Mission Score

$21.7MRevenue

$15.1MAssets

4Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Consistent operational deficits in recent years (e.g., $1.88M deficit in 2023, $4.05M in 2022).
Increasing liabilities trend, reaching $14,943,797 in 2023.
Unusual reporting of 0% officer compensation for an organization of this size, potentially lacking transparency on executive pay.
Declining revenue trend over the past several years, from over $30M in 2019 to $22.7M in 2023.

Strengths

Substantial asset base ($17,149,633 in 2023) provides a buffer against operational deficits.
Long filing history (12 filings) indicates consistent compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
Focus on education (NTEE Code B20Z) aligns with a clear mission.

Spending Breakdown

How Birch Wathen Lenox School allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Birch Wathen Lenox School

Is Birch Wathen Lenox School a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Birch Wathen Lenox School (EIN: 133603578) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Birch Wathen Lenox School a good charity to donate to?

Birch Wathen Lenox School has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $21.7M. Assets: $15.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Birch Wathen Lenox School?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Birch Wathen Lenox School is 133603578. 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 Birch Wathen Lenox School spend its money?

Birch Wathen Lenox School allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Birch Wathen Lenox School's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Birch Wathen Lenox School's tax-exempt status using EIN 133603578 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

Birch Wathen Lenox School demonstrates a consistent operational deficit in recent years, with expenses exceeding revenue. For example, in 2023, expenses were $24,587,678 against revenues of $22,701,975, indicating a shortfall. This trend is also visible in 2022 ($30,800,620 expenses vs. $26,747,840 revenue) and 2021 ($31,618,966 expenses vs. $28,023,586 revenue). While the organization's assets have fluctuated, they generally remain substantial relative to its annual revenue, with $17,149,633 in assets in 2023. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests either a volunteer leadership structure or that compensation is reported under other categories, which could impact transparency regarding executive pay. The organization's liabilities have also shown an increasing trend in recent years, reaching $14,943,797 in 2023, which warrants attention.

The financial health appears to be under pressure due to recurring operational deficits. While the asset base provides some buffer, sustained deficits could erode reserves over time. The lack of reported officer compensation directly on the 990s could be a point of concern for stakeholders seeking full transparency on how leadership is compensated. The NTEE code B20Z indicates a focus on elementary and secondary education, which aligns with the school's mission. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories from the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The overall trend shows a decrease in both revenue and expenses over the past few years, suggesting a potential scaling down of operations or a shift in financial strategy.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

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