Quick charity verification for Charter School For Applied Technologies (EIN: 161603918)
Verdict: Charter School For Applied Technologies appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$49.0MRevenue
$65.1MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further investigation into executive compensation structures.
Strengths
Consistent revenue growth, increasing from $22.3 million in 2014 to $38.7 million in 2023.
Strong asset growth, nearly doubling from $31.9 million in 2014 to $63.3 million in 2023.
Consistent operational surpluses, indicating sound financial management (e.g., $1.4 million surplus in 2023).
High program focus, as implied by the absence of reported officer compensation and consistent surpluses.
Spending Breakdown
How Charter School For Applied Technologies allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
8%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
2%
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 Charter School For Applied Technologies
Is Charter School For Applied Technologies a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Charter School For Applied Technologies (EIN: 161603918) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Charter School For Applied Technologies a good charity to donate to?
Charter School For Applied Technologies has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $49.0M. Assets: $65.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Charter School For Applied Technologies?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Charter School For Applied Technologies is 161603918. 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 Charter School For Applied Technologies spend its money?
Charter School For Applied Technologies allocates 90% to programs, 8% to administration, and 2% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Charter School For Applied Technologies's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Charter School For Applied Technologies's tax-exempt status using EIN 161603918 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 Charter School For Applied Technologies demonstrates consistent financial growth and appears to be in a healthy financial position. Over the past decade, its revenue has steadily increased from $22.3 million in 2014 to $38.7 million in 2023, with assets growing significantly from $31.9 million to $63.3 million in the same period. The organization consistently operates with a surplus, as evidenced by revenues generally exceeding expenses, indicating sound financial management and sustainability. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $38,672,139 against expenses of $37,188,547, resulting in a surplus of over $1.4 million.
Spending efficiency is strong, with a high percentage of expenses directed towards program services. While specific breakdowns for administrative and fundraising costs are not provided in the summary data, the absence of reported officer compensation suggests a commitment to directing resources towards its mission rather than high executive salaries. The organization's assets have nearly doubled over the last decade, indicating effective asset management and growth.
Transparency appears to be a strong point, given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s and the explicit reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available periods. This lack of reported officer compensation is unusual for an organization of this size and could indicate that executive salaries are reported under other expense categories or that the school's leadership is compensated through a related entity, which would warrant further investigation for complete transparency. However, based on the provided data, the organization's financial health and operational efficiency seem robust.