Quick charity verification for Cultural Vistas Inc (EIN: 136199596)
Verdict: Cultural Vistas Inc appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$20.9MRevenue
$23.0MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported on 990s, lacking transparency on executive pay.
Significant increase in liabilities from $2.1M in 2014 to $13.4M in 2023, requiring further scrutiny of their nature.
Strengths
Strong financial recovery post-2020, with revenues rebounding to pre-pandemic levels ($18.4M in 2023).
Consistent growth in assets, from $11.4M in 2014 to $21.0M in 2023, indicating financial stability.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 periods), demonstrating commitment to regulatory compliance.
Expenses closely track revenues, suggesting efficient management of resources.
Spending Breakdown
How Cultural Vistas 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 Cultural Vistas Inc
Is Cultural Vistas Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cultural Vistas Inc (EIN: 136199596) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Cultural Vistas Inc a good charity to donate to?
Cultural Vistas Inc has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $20.9M. Assets: $23.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Cultural Vistas Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Cultural Vistas Inc is 136199596. 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 Cultural Vistas Inc spend its money?
Cultural Vistas Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Cultural Vistas Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Cultural Vistas Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 136199596 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
Cultural Vistas Inc. demonstrates a generally stable financial position, with revenues and expenses largely balancing out over the past decade. While there was a notable dip in revenue and expenses during the 2020-2021 period, likely due to global events impacting international exchange programs, the organization has since rebounded, with 2023 revenue at $18,475,445 and expenses at $18,605,720. The organization consistently reports zero officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of its size and could indicate that executive salaries are reported under other expense categories or that the top leadership is compensated through a related entity, warranting further investigation for full transparency. Their asset base has shown consistent growth, reaching $21,075,282 in 2023, indicating sound financial management and accumulation of resources.
The organization's spending efficiency appears reasonable, with expenses closely tracking revenues. The liabilities have also increased in proportion to assets, reaching $13,457,126 in 2023, which is a point to monitor but not necessarily a red flag given the growth in assets. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and public disclosure, contributing positively to their transparency profile. However, the lack of reported officer compensation on the 990s is a significant data gap that hinders a complete assessment of executive pay practices and overall financial transparency.