Is Cathedral Fund Legit?

Quick charity verification for Cathedral Fund (EIN: 133843243)

Verdict: Cathedral Fund has notable concerns

30/100Mission Score

$4.3MRevenue

$5.5MAssets

5Red Flags

2Strengths

Red Flags

Consistent operating deficits over multiple years (e.g., $169,187 revenue vs. $400,000 expenses in 2023).
Significant decline in assets from $7,609,840 in 2014 to $5,800,850 in 2023, indicating reliance on reserves.
Highly volatile and generally low revenue in recent years compared to expenses.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown to assess program, administrative, and fundraising spending ratios.
Unexplained discrepancy between 'latest revenue' and recent IRS 990 reported revenues.

Strengths

Very low reported liabilities ($0 or $1), indicating minimal debt burden.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a potentially volunteer-driven leadership.

Spending Breakdown

How Cathedral Fund allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

Program Spending

Concerning — less than half to programs

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Cathedral Fund

Is Cathedral Fund a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cathedral Fund (EIN: 133843243) has notable concerns. Mission Score: 30/100. 5 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is Cathedral Fund a good charity to donate to?

Cathedral Fund has a Mission Score of 30/100. Revenue: $4.3M. Assets: $5.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Cathedral Fund?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Cathedral Fund is 133843243. 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 Cathedral Fund spend its money?

Cathedral Fund allocates 0% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Cathedral Fund's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Cathedral Fund's tax-exempt status using EIN 133843243 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 Cathedral Fund exhibits a concerning financial trend with consistent operating deficits over the past several years. In 2023, the organization reported revenue of $169,187 against expenses of $400,000, indicating a significant shortfall. This pattern is not isolated, as seen in 2022 with revenue of $184,545 versus expenses of $1,297,802, and in 2021 with revenue of $373,798 against expenses of $563,870. These deficits have led to a steady decline in assets, from $7,609,840 in 2014 to $5,800,850 in 2023, suggesting the organization is drawing down its reserves to cover operational costs.

The organization's revenue has been highly volatile, with a peak of $5,133,964 in 2014, but consistently much lower in subsequent years, often below $400,000. The latest reported revenue of $4,322,848 is an outlier compared to recent years' filings, and without a corresponding expense figure for this 'latest revenue,' it's difficult to assess its impact. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all filings indicates either a fully volunteer-run leadership or compensation is reported under other expense categories, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs. The minimal liabilities reported ($0 or $1) suggest a low debt burden, which is a positive, but the ongoing operational deficits are a significant concern for long-term sustainability.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.