Quick charity verification for Catholic Charities Of Buffalo (EIN: 160743251)
Verdict: Catholic Charities Of Buffalo appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$30.2MRevenue
$42.6MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which may obscure actual executive remuneration if not reported elsewhere.
Occasional operating deficits where expenses exceed revenue, such as in 2023 and 2021, though these are relatively small compared to total revenue.
Strengths
Stable and substantial asset base, consistently over $40 million, providing financial resilience.
Long and consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings), indicating regulatory compliance and transparency.
Consistent operational scale with annual revenues generally between $27 million and $35 million over the past decade.
Spending Breakdown
How Catholic Charities Of Buffalo allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 Catholic Charities Of Buffalo
Is Catholic Charities Of Buffalo a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Catholic Charities Of Buffalo (EIN: 160743251) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Catholic Charities Of Buffalo a good charity to donate to?
Catholic Charities Of Buffalo has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $30.2M. Assets: $42.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Catholic Charities Of Buffalo?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Catholic Charities Of Buffalo is 160743251. 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 Catholic Charities Of Buffalo spend its money?
Catholic Charities Of Buffalo allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Catholic Charities Of Buffalo's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Catholic Charities Of Buffalo's tax-exempt status using EIN 160743251 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
Catholic Charities Of Buffalo demonstrates consistent financial activity, with annual revenues and expenses generally in the range of $27 million to $35 million over the past decade. The organization's assets have remained stable, typically around $40-43 million, indicating a solid financial base. While there have been periods where expenses slightly exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($28,403,489 expenses vs. $27,684,521 revenue) and 2021 ($29,311,879 expenses vs. $29,280,723 revenue), these fluctuations appear to be managed within the context of its overall financial stability and asset base. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests that executive compensation is either not reported in this section or is handled differently, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs if not disclosed elsewhere.
The organization's NTEE code T310 (Human Services - Multipurpose and Other) aligns with the broad mission of Catholic Charities. The consistent filing history over 13 periods indicates a commitment to regulatory compliance. However, without detailed breakdowns of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The lack of reported officer compensation in the provided data is a notable point for further inquiry regarding executive remuneration practices.