Quick charity verification for Community Service Alliance (EIN: 201418132)
Verdict: Community Service Alliance shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$467KRevenue
$328KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent operating deficits (expenses exceeding revenue) in most recent years, including 2023 and 2022.
Declining asset base, from $511,657 in 2014 to $307,929 in 2023, indicating a draw-down on reserves.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data limits full spending efficiency analysis.
Strengths
Consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings) demonstrates transparency.
Reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating low executive overhead.
Long operational history (since at least 2014) suggests established community presence.
Spending Breakdown
How Community Service Alliance 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 Community Service Alliance
Is Community Service Alliance a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Community Service Alliance (EIN: 201418132) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Community Service Alliance a good charity to donate to?
Community Service Alliance has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $467K. Assets: $328K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Community Service Alliance?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Community Service Alliance is 201418132. 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 Community Service Alliance spend its money?
Community Service Alliance allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Community Service Alliance's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Community Service Alliance's tax-exempt status using EIN 201418132 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
Community Service Alliance demonstrates consistent operational activity, with revenues and expenses generally in the range of $300,000 to $400,000 over the past decade. The organization has frequently operated with expenses exceeding revenue, as seen in 2023 ($429,027 expenses vs. $387,851 revenue) and 2022 ($412,456 expenses vs. $349,975 revenue), indicating a reliance on prior reserves or other funding sources to cover shortfalls. While assets have fluctuated, they have generally declined from a high of $511,657 in 2014 to $307,929 in 2023, suggesting a draw-down on reserves.
The organization's transparency is bolstered by its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, with 13 filings available. A significant positive indicator is the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which suggests that executive leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, potentially reducing administrative overhead. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is limited. The consistent operating deficits warrant closer examination to understand their sustainability.
Overall, Community Service Alliance appears to be a long-standing organization with a history of community engagement. Its financial health shows signs of strain due to recurring deficits and declining assets. The lack of officer compensation is a strong positive for transparency and potential efficiency, but a deeper dive into expense categories would be necessary to fully evaluate spending efficiency and program impact.