Is Cable Center Legit?

Red Flags

Consistent operational deficits, with expenses regularly exceeding revenue (e.g., $4,071,137 expenses vs. $2,648,762 revenue in 2023).
No officer compensation reported across all 13 filings, which is atypical for an organization of this scale.
Significant decline in revenue from $3,206,184 in 2016 to $1,120,958 in 2020, though it has since recovered to $2,648,762 in 2023.

Strengths

Maintains a very strong asset base, consistently over $50 million (e.g., $53,247,448 in 2023), providing significant financial stability.
Low liabilities relative to assets (e.g., $4,618,137 liabilities vs. $53,247,448 assets in 2023), indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Consistent filing history over 13 periods, demonstrating transparency in reporting to the IRS.

Spending Breakdown

How Cable Center allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

70%

Program Spending

Below average — room for improvement

20%

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 Cable Center

Is Cable Center a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cable Center (EIN: 200315238) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 60/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Cable Center a good charity to donate to?

Cable Center has a Mission Score of 60/100. Revenue: $34.5M. Assets: $54.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Cable Center?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Cable Center is 200315238. 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 Cable Center spend its money?

Cable Center allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Cable Center's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Cable Center's tax-exempt status using EIN 200315238 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 Cable Center demonstrates a consistent operational deficit, with expenses regularly exceeding revenue over the past decade. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $2,648,762 against expenses of $4,071,137, indicating a significant reliance on its substantial asset base of over $50 million. While the organization maintains a strong asset position, its ability to cover annual operating costs through current revenue streams is a concern. The lack of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or compensation being reported under different categories, which warrants further investigation for full transparency.

The organization's financial health, while supported by its considerable assets, shows a pattern of spending more than it earns annually. This trend, visible across multiple years (e.g., 2022 revenue $2,481,544 vs. expenses $3,923,544), suggests that the organization is drawing down on its reserves or relying on non-operating income not fully captured in the 'Revenue' line item to sustain operations. The efficiency of spending cannot be fully assessed without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data.

Transparency regarding executive compensation is high, as no officer compensation is reported. However, the consistent operational deficits raise questions about long-term financial sustainability if the organization continues to spend significantly more than its annual income. The substantial asset base provides a buffer, but the underlying operational model appears to be deficit-driven.

Verdict: Cable Center shows mixed signals