Is Braewold Fund Legit?

Quick charity verification for Braewold Fund (EIN: 137196658)

Verdict: Braewold Fund appears trustworthy

75/100Mission Score

$2.8MRevenue

$5.8MAssets

3Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Inconsistent revenue streams with significant year-to-year fluctuations
Periods of substantial operating deficits where expenses significantly exceed revenue (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2019)
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in provided data to assess program efficiency accurately

Strengths

Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level
Minimal liabilities ($1 across all filings), suggesting strong financial solvency regarding debt
Significant growth in assets over the decade, from $493,698 in 2011 to $4,936,832 in 2023
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating transparency in reporting

Spending Breakdown

How Braewold Fund allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

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 Braewold Fund

Is Braewold Fund a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Braewold Fund (EIN: 137196658) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Braewold Fund a good charity to donate to?

Braewold Fund has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $2.8M. Assets: $5.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Braewold Fund?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Braewold Fund is 137196658. 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 Braewold Fund spend its money?

Braewold Fund allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Braewold Fund's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Braewold Fund's tax-exempt status using EIN 137196658 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 Braewold Fund exhibits inconsistent financial performance over the past decade, with significant fluctuations in revenue and expenses. For instance, in 2023, the organization reported revenue of $149,768 against expenses of $315,046, indicating a deficit. This trend of expenses exceeding revenue is also visible in 2022 ($99,494 revenue vs. $513,209 expenses) and 2019 ($219,469 revenue vs. $326,205 expenses). However, there were periods of substantial surplus, such as 2015 where revenue was $2,449,087 against expenses of $177,843. The organization consistently reports minimal liabilities ($1 across all filings), suggesting a healthy balance sheet in terms of debt, with assets growing from $493,698 in 2011 to $4,936,832 in 2023.

Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to definitively assess. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a lean operational structure at the executive level, which is a positive indicator for donor funds being directed towards the mission rather than high salaries. The significant swings in revenue and expenses, particularly the periods of high expenses relative to revenue, warrant further investigation into the nature of these expenditures and their alignment with program delivery.

Transparency appears to be adequate through the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s. The lack of officer compensation is a notable point, indicating that the organization's leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation, which could be a strength in terms of directing funds to programs. However, the NTEE code T22 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) suggests its primary activity is grantmaking, and the financial data should be viewed through that lens, where expenses might primarily be grants rather than direct program delivery costs.

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Disclaimer

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