Is Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc Legit?
Quick charity verification for Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc (EIN: 203210678)
Verdict: Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$171KRevenue
$24KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant decline in assets from $81,494 (201409) to $23,618 (201809)
Expenses exceeding revenue in multiple recent periods (e.g., 201809, 201609, 201509)
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in summary data
Strengths
Consistent reporting of zero liabilities across all filings
No reported officer compensation, suggesting low executive overhead
Consistent revenue generation over multiple years
Spending Breakdown
How Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc 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 Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc
Is Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc (EIN: 203210678) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc a good charity to donate to?
Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $171K. Assets: $24K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc is 203210678. 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 Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc spend its money?
Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 203210678 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
Cherokee County Court Referral Services Inc appears to be a small, local nonprofit with a fluctuating financial history. In its latest filing (201809), the organization reported revenue of $171,280 against expenses of $179,063, indicating a slight deficit for that period. This continues a trend of expenses exceeding revenue in several recent periods, notably in 201609 and 201509. The organization's assets have also seen a significant decline from a high of $81,494 in 201409 to $23,618 in 201809, suggesting a potential draw on reserves or operational challenges over time. The consistent reporting of zero liabilities across all available filings is a positive indicator of financial stability in terms of debt management.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that executive overhead is not a significant drain on resources, which is generally a positive sign for smaller nonprofits. The lack of detailed expense categories in the provided data limits a comprehensive analysis of spending efficiency and program focus.
Transparency is moderately good given the availability of multiple IRS 990 filings. However, the absence of specific breakdowns for program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in the provided data limits a deeper understanding of how funds are allocated. For a more complete picture, access to the full 990 forms would be necessary to evaluate the proportion of spending directly on mission-related activities versus overhead.