Is Conservation Research And Education Opportunities Legit?
Quick charity verification for Conservation Research And Education Opportunities (EIN: 203574087)
Verdict: Conservation Research And Education Opportunities appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$150KRevenue
$126KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant year-to-year financial volatility, with expenses nearly doubling revenue in 2023 ($95,986 vs $50,033).
Large deficit in 2023 where expenses ($95,986) far exceeded revenue ($50,033), potentially impacting future operations.
Extremely low revenue reported in 2020 ($29), indicating a potential operational pause or reporting anomaly.
Strengths
Consistent record of zero liabilities across all reported periods, indicating strong debt management.
Reports 0% officer compensation, suggesting a commitment to directing funds towards mission-related activities.
Demonstrated ability to generate substantial revenue in some years (e.g., $195,183 in 2017, $169,331 in 2018).
Spending Breakdown
How Conservation Research And Education Opportunities 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 Conservation Research And Education Opportunities
Is Conservation Research And Education Opportunities a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Conservation Research And Education Opportunities (EIN: 203574087) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Conservation Research And Education Opportunities a good charity to donate to?
Conservation Research And Education Opportunities has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $150K. Assets: $126K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Conservation Research And Education Opportunities?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Conservation Research And Education Opportunities is 203574087. 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 Conservation Research And Education Opportunities spend its money?
Conservation Research And Education Opportunities allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Conservation Research And Education Opportunities's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Conservation Research And Education Opportunities's tax-exempt status using EIN 203574087 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
Conservation Research And Education Opportunities (CREO) exhibits inconsistent financial performance over the past decade. While the organization has maintained zero liabilities across all reported periods, indicating sound financial management in avoiding debt, its revenue and expense figures fluctuate significantly. For instance, in 2023, expenses ($95,986) nearly doubled revenue ($50,033), leading to a substantial deficit. Conversely, 2022 saw revenue ($100,024) more than double expenses ($46,869), resulting in a surplus. This volatility makes long-term financial planning and stability challenging to assess.
The organization's assets have also varied, from a low of $25,581 in 2021 to a high of $138,916 in 2022, currently standing at $92,963. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led organization or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs. Given the NTEE code B82 (Environmental Education), the effectiveness of their spending hinges on how these fluctuating funds are allocated to program services versus administrative or fundraising costs, which are not detailed in the provided data.
Overall, CREO demonstrates a commitment to avoiding debt, but its financial health is marked by considerable year-to-year variability in income and expenditures. A deeper dive into the functional expense breakdown would be necessary to fully evaluate spending efficiency and program impact. The lack of officer compensation is a positive sign for donor funds going directly to mission, assuming leadership is genuinely uncompensated or compensated through non-officer roles.