Quick charity verification for Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota (EIN: 204351801)
Verdict: Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$2.6MRevenue
$5.7MAssets
2Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of detailed breakdown for program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in provided summary data, making precise efficiency analysis difficult.
The consistent 0% officer compensation, while positive for resource allocation, is unusual for an organization of this size and could warrant further inquiry into how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong commitment to mission-focused spending.
Decreasing trend in liabilities, from $1,392,346 in 2014 to $595,353 in 2023, improving financial health.
Strong recovery in revenue post-2020, demonstrating resilience and effective fundraising.
Expenses closely align with revenue, suggesting efficient utilization of funds for operations.
Spending Breakdown
How Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota
Is Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota (EIN: 204351801) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota a good charity to donate to?
Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $2.6M. Assets: $5.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota is 204351801. 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 Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota spend its money?
Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota's tax-exempt status using EIN 204351801 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 Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota demonstrates a generally stable financial position, with assets consistently above $4 million over the past decade, reaching $5,032,232 in 2023. Revenue has shown some fluctuation, with a notable dip in 2020 and 2019, likely impacted by external factors, but has since recovered to $1,748,335 in 2023. The organization consistently spends nearly all of its revenue on expenses, with expenses of $1,724,836 against revenues of $1,748,335 in 2023, indicating efficient use of funds to support its operations. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a strong commitment to directing resources towards the mission rather than executive salaries, which is a positive indicator of financial health and transparency. While specific program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the overall expense-to-revenue ratio suggests a lean operational model.
The museum's financial health appears sound, with a healthy asset base and a trend of revenue recovery. The organization's ability to manage liabilities, which have generally decreased from $1,392,346 in 2014 to $595,353 in 2023, further strengthens its financial standing. The consistent absence of reported officer compensation is a significant positive for transparency and donor confidence, indicating that leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size but highly favorable for resource allocation. Overall, the Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota appears to be a well-managed organization financially, effectively utilizing its resources to achieve its mission.