Is Chesed Foundation Of America Legit?

Quick charity verification for Chesed Foundation Of America (EIN: 133922068)

Verdict: Chesed Foundation Of America shows mixed signals

65/100Mission Score

$163.9MRevenue

$250.0MAssets

5Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Highly volatile revenue and expense figures year-over-year, making financial planning and stability difficult to assess.
Consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities, which is an unusual and potentially misleading figure for an organization of this size.
Significant deficits in multiple years (e.g., 201506, 202306), indicating periods where expenses far outstripped revenue.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering a full assessment of spending efficiency.
The latest reported revenue of $163,892,930 is an extreme outlier compared to historical trends, requiring further context.

Strengths

Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating either a volunteer-led executive team or highly efficient leadership cost management.
Substantial asset base, with assets consistently over $160 million in recent years and reaching $255,841,142 in 202406.
Periods of strong financial surplus (e.g., 202406, 202106), demonstrating capacity for effective resource generation and management in certain years.

Spending Breakdown

How Chesed Foundation Of America allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

75%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

10%

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 Chesed Foundation Of America

Is Chesed Foundation Of America a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Chesed Foundation Of America (EIN: 133922068) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 5 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Chesed Foundation Of America a good charity to donate to?

Chesed Foundation Of America has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $163.9M. Assets: $250.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Chesed Foundation Of America?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Chesed Foundation Of America is 133922068. 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 Chesed Foundation Of America spend its money?

Chesed Foundation Of America allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Chesed Foundation Of America's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Chesed Foundation Of America's tax-exempt status using EIN 133922068 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

Chesed Foundation Of America demonstrates a fluctuating financial landscape over the past decade. While the organization reported a substantial latest revenue of $163,892,930, this figure appears to be an outlier compared to its historical annual revenues, which typically range from $1.6 million to $15.7 million. The organization consistently reports $1 in liabilities in recent years, which is unusual for an entity of its size and asset base, potentially indicating a simplified reporting approach or specific financial structure. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or compensation being reported under different categories, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses within the provided data. However, looking at the revenue-to-expense ratio, there have been periods of significant deficits, such as in 202306 where expenses ($18,066,270) far exceeded revenue ($8,652,812), and a particularly large deficit in 201506 with expenses of $102,566,361 against revenue of $11,093,580. Conversely, some years show substantial surpluses, like 202406 (revenue $8,058,187 vs. expenses $3,818,364) and 202106 (revenue $6,797,662 vs. expenses $2,738,661). The lack of detailed expense categories in the provided data limits a precise evaluation of spending efficiency across different functions.

Transparency regarding executive compensation is high, with 0% reported for officers. However, the consistent $1 liability reporting and the significant fluctuations in revenue and expenses without further context raise questions about the completeness of the financial picture presented. The NTEE code T22Z (Jewish Federations & Allied Agencies) suggests a specific mission focus, but without program expense details, it's challenging to confirm the direct impact of spending on its stated mission.

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Disclaimer

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