Is Cara Charitable Foundation Inc Legit? —…

Quick charity verification for Cara Charitable Foundation Inc (EIN: 203996824)

Spending Breakdown

How Cara Charitable Foundation Inc 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 Cara Charitable Foundation Inc

Is Cara Charitable Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cara Charitable Foundation Inc (EIN: 203996824) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 40/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is Cara Charitable Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?

Cara Charitable Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 40/100. Revenue: $445K. Assets: $153K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Cara Charitable Foundation Inc?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Cara Charitable Foundation Inc is 203996824. 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 Cara Charitable Foundation Inc spend its money?

Cara Charitable Foundation Inc allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Cara Charitable Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Cara Charitable Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 203996824 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

Cara Charitable Foundation Inc. exhibits a concerning trend of declining financial health over the past decade. While the organization consistently reports zero officer compensation, which is a positive for transparency regarding executive pay, its revenue has frequently fallen short of expenses. For instance, in 2023, revenue was only $43,913 against expenses of $333,467, indicating a significant operating deficit. This pattern of spending more than it earns is a long-standing issue, with similar deficits seen in 2022 ($149,304 revenue vs. $368,540 expenses) and 2020 ($222,864 revenue vs. $488,008 expenses).

The organization's assets have also seen a substantial decline, from $1,749,963 in 2011 to $485,479 in 2023. This depletion of assets, coupled with persistent operating deficits, raises questions about the long-term sustainability and financial management of the foundation. While the NTEE code T22 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) suggests its primary activity is grantmaking, the consistent net losses indicate that the foundation is drawing down its principal rather than operating on investment income or new contributions. The lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data makes it difficult to assess spending efficiency beyond the overall deficit, but the trend is clear: the foundation is shrinking.

Is Cara Charitable Foundation Inc Legit?

Verdict: Cara Charitable Foundation Inc shows mixed signals

Red Flags

Strengths