Quick charity verification for Brentwood Historical Society (EIN: 20464649)
Verdict: Brentwood Historical Society shows mixed signals
60/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent reporting of zero expenses in recent years (2020-2022) despite some revenue, raising questions about operational activity or complete financial reporting.
Very low revenue, indicating limited capacity for significant programmatic impact.
Strengths
No reported officer compensation, indicating a fully volunteer-led organization.
No reported liabilities, demonstrating financial solvency.
Modest but consistent growth in assets over the past five years.
Spending Breakdown
How Brentwood Historical Society allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
100%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
0%
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 Brentwood Historical Society
Is Brentwood Historical Society a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Brentwood Historical Society (EIN: 20464649) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 60/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Brentwood Historical Society a good charity to donate to?
Brentwood Historical Society has a Mission Score of 60/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Brentwood Historical Society?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Brentwood Historical Society is 20464649. 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 Brentwood Historical Society spend its money?
Brentwood Historical Society allocates 100% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Brentwood Historical Society's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Brentwood Historical Society's tax-exempt status using EIN 20464649 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 Brentwood Historical Society appears to be a very small, volunteer-run organization based on its financial filings. With zero reported expenses in its three most recent filings (2020-2022) despite reporting some revenue, it suggests that any operational costs are either extremely minimal, absorbed by volunteers, or not being accurately reported. The organization's assets have shown modest growth, from $27,613 in 2018 to $33,188 in 2022, indicating some financial stability, albeit at a very small scale. The lack of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a high degree of volunteerism at the leadership level, which is positive for donor confidence regarding administrative overhead.
However, the consistent reporting of zero expenses in recent years raises questions about how the organization is achieving its mission, as even a historical society would typically incur some costs for preservation, events, or administrative supplies. This could indicate that the organization is largely inactive or that its financial reporting is incomplete. While the absence of liabilities is a strength, the overall financial picture is one of an organization operating at a very low level of activity, making it difficult to fully assess its spending efficiency or impact. The transparency is good in terms of officer compensation, but the expense reporting is a significant area of concern.