Quick charity verification for Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc (EIN: 10395188)
Verdict: Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$34KRevenue
$19KAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent decline in assets from $60,505 in 2016 to $19,756 in 2023, indicating spending exceeding income over the long term.
Frequent periods where expenses significantly outpace revenue, such as in 2022 where expenses were $43,445 against $31,328 in revenue.
Strengths
Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating a volunteer-driven leadership and efficient use of funds.
Consistently reports zero liabilities, demonstrating strong financial solvency and no reliance on debt.
Regularly files IRS Form 990, indicating a commitment to transparency and compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc
Is Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc (EIN: 10395188) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc a good charity to donate to?
Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $34K. Assets: $19K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc is 10395188. 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 Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc spend its money?
Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 10395188 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
Bremen Volunteer Fire Company Inc operates with a relatively small financial footprint, with recent annual revenues fluctuating around $30,000. The organization consistently reports zero liabilities and zero officer compensation, indicating a strong financial position in terms of debt and a volunteer-driven leadership structure. However, the organization has experienced periods where expenses exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($32,411 expenses vs. $27,208 revenue) and 2022 ($43,445 expenses vs. $31,328 revenue), leading to a draw-down on assets. While the lack of officer compensation suggests good stewardship, the consistent decline in assets from a high of $60,505 in 2016 to $19,756 in 2023 warrants attention. The NTEE code being unknown could be a minor transparency concern, as it makes it harder to benchmark against similar organizations.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories from the provided data. However, the consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a positive indicator of efficient use of funds at the leadership level. The fluctuating revenue and expenses suggest that the organization may rely on periodic fundraising efforts or grants that vary year-to-year. The decline in assets over the past several years, despite periods of revenue exceeding expenses, suggests that overall expenses have outpaced revenue growth in the long term.
In terms of transparency, the organization consistently files its IRS Form 990, demonstrating a commitment to public disclosure. The clear reporting of zero liabilities and zero officer compensation are strong points. The primary area for improved transparency would be a more detailed breakdown of their expenses, which is not available in this summary data, to allow for a more precise evaluation of their program efficiency and administrative overhead. The unknown NTEE code is a minor impediment to external analysis.