Quick charity verification for Columbia University Tr Uw (EIN: 136057288)
Verdict: Columbia University Tr Uw shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$112KRevenue
$195KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of NTEE code, making it difficult to ascertain primary purpose.
Significant revenue volatility, including negative revenue in 2022 ($-12,682), which could indicate unstable funding or investment performance.
No detailed breakdown of expenses provided, limiting assessment of spending efficiency beyond executive compensation.
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating no executive pay from this entity.
Maintains stable asset base (e.g., $195,359 in latest period) despite revenue fluctuations.
Consistently low liabilities ($0 or $1 across all reported periods), indicating strong financial solvency.
Spending Breakdown
How Columbia University Tr Uw 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 Columbia University Tr Uw
Is Columbia University Tr Uw a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Columbia University Tr Uw (EIN: 136057288) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Columbia University Tr Uw a good charity to donate to?
Columbia University Tr Uw has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $112K. Assets: $195K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Columbia University Tr Uw?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Columbia University Tr Uw is 136057288. 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 Columbia University Tr Uw spend its money?
Columbia University Tr Uw allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Columbia University Tr Uw's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Columbia University Tr Uw's tax-exempt status using EIN 136057288 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
Columbia University Tr Uw appears to be a relatively small entity, likely a trust or endowment fund given its name and financial characteristics. Its financial health shows significant fluctuations in revenue, including a negative revenue of $-12,682 in 2022, which could indicate investment losses or accounting adjustments. Despite these fluctuations, its assets have remained relatively stable, hovering around $190,000-$220,000 in recent years, with latest assets at $195,359. Expenses are consistently low, typically under $18,000 annually, suggesting minimal operational overhead. The organization consistently reports $0 in liabilities and 0% officer compensation, which points to a lean operational structure and potentially high transparency regarding executive pay, as there is none reported.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, which is not provided in the summary data. However, given the low overall expenses relative to assets, it suggests that the organization is not incurring significant costs. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is a positive indicator of efficient use of funds at the executive level. The organization's transparency is good in terms of executive compensation and liabilities, but the lack of NTEE code and detailed expense breakdown limits a comprehensive assessment of its programmatic focus and spending efficiency.