Quick charity verification for Crain Maling Foundation (EIN: 204310219)
Verdict: Crain Maling Foundation appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$19.5MRevenue
$32.7MAssets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant revenue volatility, including negative revenue in multiple years (e.g., -$3,628,283 in 2023), indicating reliance on unpredictable investment returns.
Declining asset base from $44.6 million in 2019 to $33.1 million in 2023, potentially impacting future grantmaking capacity.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering a full assessment of spending efficiency.
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which, while potentially positive, could also indicate a lack of transparency if executive compensation is simply reported elsewhere or not fully disclosed.
Strengths
Consistent level of expenses maintained despite revenue fluctuations, suggesting stable operational or grantmaking commitments.
Substantial asset base (over $32 million in 2023) provides a strong financial foundation for its mission.
Low liabilities in most years, indicating good financial management of debt.
Spending Breakdown
How Crain Maling Foundation 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 Crain Maling Foundation
Is Crain Maling Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Crain Maling Foundation (EIN: 204310219) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Crain Maling Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Crain Maling Foundation has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $19.5M. Assets: $32.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Crain Maling Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Crain Maling Foundation is 204310219. 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 Crain Maling Foundation spend its money?
Crain Maling Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Crain Maling Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Crain Maling Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 204310219 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 Crain Maling Foundation exhibits a fluctuating financial performance over the past decade, with significant swings in revenue, including negative revenue in some years (e.g., -$3,628,283 in 2023 and -$1,718,809 in 2020). This volatility suggests reliance on investment returns or other non-operating income, which can be unpredictable. Despite these revenue fluctuations, the organization consistently incurs expenses, ranging from approximately $1.4 million to $3 million annually. The foundation's assets have generally remained substantial, though showing a declining trend from a peak of over $44 million in 2019 to $33.1 million in 2023, indicating a draw-down on its endowment or investment losses. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer leadership structure or that compensation is not reported in this category, which could impact transparency regarding executive pay practices if not clarified elsewhere.
Given the nature of a foundation (NTEE Code T22 - Private Grantmaking Foundations), a significant portion of expenses should ideally be directed towards program services, primarily grants. Without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories from the provided data, it's challenging to precisely assess spending efficiency. However, the consistent expenses against sometimes negative revenue figures highlight a need for careful management of its endowment to sustain its grantmaking activities. The absence of reported officer compensation is a notable point for transparency, as it could imply a highly efficient, volunteer-led model or a lack of detailed disclosure in the provided summary.