Quick charity verification for Build A Plane (EIN: 204035633)
Verdict: Build A Plane has notable concerns
20/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
4Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Latest filing shows $0 revenue and $0 assets, indicating potential cessation of operations.
Extreme revenue volatility across reporting periods, making financial planning and sustainability uncertain.
Expenses exceeded revenue in 2018 ($1,716,708 expenses vs. $1,677,100 revenue), leading to a deficit.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in provided data prevents a thorough analysis of spending efficiency.
Strengths
Consistently reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating no executive salaries were paid.
Maintained positive assets in most operational years, peaking at $566,810 in 2017.
Spending Breakdown
How Build A Plane allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 Build A Plane
Is Build A Plane a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Build A Plane (EIN: 204035633) has notable concerns. Mission Score: 20/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Build A Plane a good charity to donate to?
Build A Plane has a Mission Score of 20/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Build A Plane?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Build A Plane is 204035633. 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 Build A Plane spend its money?
Build A Plane allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Build A Plane's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Build A Plane's tax-exempt status using EIN 204035633 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
Build A Plane exhibits a highly volatile financial history, with revenue fluctuating dramatically from $62,313 in 2011 to a peak of $1,677,100 in 2018, followed by a complete cessation of reported activity with $0 revenue and assets in its latest filing. This extreme variability makes consistent financial health assessment challenging. The organization consistently reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is a positive indicator for donor trust and suggests resources are not being diverted to high executive salaries. However, the sudden and complete lack of financial activity in the latest period raises significant concerns about its operational status and long-term viability.
Spending efficiency is difficult to ascertain without a detailed breakdown of expenses beyond total expenses. While the organization generally spent less than or close to its revenue in most years, the 2018 period saw expenses of $1,716,708 exceeding revenue of $1,677,100, indicating a deficit. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests a commitment to minimizing administrative overhead in that specific area. However, the complete absence of financial data in the latest filing severely impacts transparency, as there is no current information to analyze.
Overall, while past filings showed some operational activity and a commitment to not paying officers, the current status of $0 revenue and assets, coupled with the lack of any detailed expense breakdown, presents a very opaque picture. Donors would have no current financial information to evaluate, making it impossible to assess current spending efficiency or program impact. The organization's transparency is severely compromised by its current inactive financial state.