Is Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc Legit?
Quick charity verification for Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc (EIN: 204350731)
Verdict: Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$609KRevenue
$181KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Recurring operational deficits (e.g., $96,690 deficit in 2023, $35,396 in 2022).
Significant increase in liabilities in 2023 ($98,037, up from $17,919 in 2022).
Assets ($115,098 in 2023) are only slightly higher than liabilities ($98,037) in the latest filing, indicating limited financial cushion.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds for mission.
Long-term growth in assets, from $13,438 in 2015 to $115,098 in 2023, demonstrating some financial accumulation.
Consistent filing of IRS 990s, indicating good transparency practices.
Spending Breakdown
How Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc 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 Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc
Is Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc (EIN: 204350731) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc a good charity to donate to?
Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $609K. Assets: $181K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc is 204350731. 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 Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc spend its money?
Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 204350731 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
Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Ocean County Inc (CASA) demonstrates a consistent operational presence, with revenues fluctuating but generally trending upwards over the past decade, reaching a peak of $447,243 in 2021 before a recent dip. The organization's assets have also shown growth, from $13,438 in 2015 to $115,098 in 2023, indicating some financial stability. However, the 2023 filing shows expenses ($409,803) exceeding revenue ($313,113), resulting in a deficit for that period, which warrants attention to ensure long-term sustainability. Liabilities also saw a significant increase in 2023 to $98,037, which is high relative to their assets.
Spending efficiency appears to be a mixed bag. While the organization has maintained a lean executive compensation structure (0% officer compensation reported across all filings), the overall financial health shows periods of deficit spending. For instance, in 2023, expenses were nearly $100,000 more than revenue. This pattern of expenses exceeding revenue has occurred in several years (2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015), suggesting a need for tighter budget management or increased fundraising efforts to cover operational costs. The organization's transparency is commendable given the consistent filing of IRS 990s and the clear reporting of zero officer compensation.
The organization's financial health, while showing growth in assets over the long term, has experienced recent challenges with deficits and increased liabilities. The lack of executive compensation is a positive indicator of resource allocation towards the mission. However, the recurring deficits and the jump in liabilities in the latest filing suggest that while transparent, the organization needs to address its operational sustainability to ensure it can continue its vital work effectively.