Quick charity verification for Cambridge School (EIN: 204594308)
Verdict: Cambridge School appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$16.1MRevenue
$38.3MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low or zero reported officer compensation for an organization of this scale, potentially obscuring executive pay.
Significant fluctuations in revenue year-over-year, such as the drop from $18,787,986 in 2022 to $12,986,819 in 2023, which could indicate reliance on variable funding sources or specific project cycles.
Strengths
Strong asset growth, increasing from $1,358,633 in 2014 to $36,160,211 in 2023, indicating robust financial health and capacity.
Consistent revenue surpluses in most years, demonstrating effective expense management relative to income.
Long filing history (13 filings) indicates sustained operation and compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
Healthy asset-to-liability ratio, with assets significantly exceeding liabilities (e.g., $36M assets vs. $15M liabilities in 2023).
Spending Breakdown
How Cambridge School allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Cambridge School
Is Cambridge School a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cambridge School (EIN: 204594308) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Cambridge School a good charity to donate to?
Cambridge School has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $16.1M. Assets: $38.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Cambridge School?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Cambridge School is 204594308. 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 Cambridge School spend its money?
Cambridge School allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Cambridge School's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Cambridge School's tax-exempt status using EIN 204594308 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
Cambridge School demonstrates a generally healthy financial position with consistent growth in assets and revenue over the past decade. For the fiscal period ending June 2023, the organization reported revenues of $12,986,819 against expenses of $10,505,291, indicating a surplus. Their assets have grown significantly from $1,358,633 in 2014 to $36,160,211 in 2023, showcasing strong financial management and accumulation of resources. The organization's liabilities have also increased, reaching $15,049,377 in 2023, which is a point to monitor, though their asset-to-liability ratio remains healthy.
The organization's spending efficiency appears strong, as evidenced by the consistent surpluses in most years, indicating that expenses are well-managed relative to income. While specific program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the overall financial health suggests effective resource allocation. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable aspect of their financial transparency, suggesting either a volunteer leadership model or compensation is reported under other expense categories, which would warrant further investigation for complete transparency.
Overall, Cambridge School appears to be a financially stable and growing institution. The significant increase in assets and revenue over the long term points to successful operations and fundraising efforts. The lack of reported officer compensation is a positive indicator for donor confidence, assuming all compensation is indeed zero or minimal for key executives, or transparently disclosed elsewhere in full filings.