Is Central New York Community Foundation Inc Legit?
Quick charity verification for Central New York Community Foundation Inc (EIN: 150626910)
Verdict: Central New York Community Foundation Inc appears trustworthy
95/100Mission Score
$61.8MRevenue
$458.3MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation across all filings, which may obscure actual executive remuneration if it's reported elsewhere.
Strengths
Consistent and significant asset growth, from $171M in 2014 to $458M currently, indicating strong financial management and endowment building.
Zero reported officer compensation across all 12 filings, suggesting a highly efficient use of funds or a volunteer-led executive structure.
Strong financial health with expenses consistently well below revenue, allowing for substantial asset accumulation.
Clear alignment with its NTEE code (Community Foundations), indicating a focused mission on local grant-making and community support.
Spending Breakdown
How Central New York Community Foundation Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
5%
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 Central New York Community Foundation Inc
Is Central New York Community Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Central New York Community Foundation Inc (EIN: 150626910) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 95/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Central New York Community Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?
Central New York Community Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 95/100. Revenue: $61.8M. Assets: $458.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Central New York Community Foundation Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Central New York Community Foundation Inc is 150626910. 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 Central New York Community Foundation Inc spend its money?
Central New York Community Foundation Inc allocates 90% to programs, 5% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Central New York Community Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Central New York Community Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 150626910 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 Central New York Community Foundation Inc demonstrates strong financial health and a consistent commitment to its mission as a community foundation. With assets growing significantly from $171,348,537 in 2014 to $458,328,795 currently, the organization has built a substantial endowment to support its grant-making activities. Revenue has fluctuated, as is common for community foundations that rely on contributions and investment returns, but has shown an overall upward trend, reaching $61,814,944 in the latest period. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a notable indicator of transparency and a focus on directing funds towards programmatic efforts rather than executive salaries.
The spending efficiency appears robust, with expenses generally well below revenue, allowing for asset growth. For example, in 2023, expenses were $25,334,728 against revenue of $34,290,952. The NTEE code T310 (Community Foundations) aligns with their operational model, which typically involves managing endowments and distributing grants. The absence of reported officer compensation across all available filings suggests a highly efficient and transparent approach to leadership remuneration, likely indicating that key personnel are compensated through other means or that the foundation operates with a volunteer leadership structure, which is less common for an organization of this size but highly commendable if true.
Overall, the Central New York Community Foundation Inc appears to be a well-managed and financially sound organization. Its consistent asset growth, significant revenue generation, and the reported 0% officer compensation across all filings point to a strong focus on its charitable purpose and efficient use of resources. The foundation's role in managing and distributing funds within the community is well-supported by its financial structure.