Quick charity verification for D C Surface Transit Inc (EIN: 201524790)
Verdict: D C Surface Transit Inc appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$1KRevenue
$125KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, making precise spending efficiency analysis difficult.
Significant year-over-year fluctuations in revenue and expenses, which could indicate inconsistent funding or project cycles (e.g., $615,985 revenue in 2020 down to $182,850 in 2023).
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating very low executive overhead.
Strong asset base relative to liabilities, demonstrating financial stability (e.g., $238,130 assets vs. $17,296 liabilities in 2023).
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent transparency and compliance.
Positive net assets maintained over the long term, despite occasional annual deficits.
Spending Breakdown
How D C Surface Transit 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 D C Surface Transit Inc
Is D C Surface Transit Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, D C Surface Transit Inc (EIN: 201524790) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is D C Surface Transit Inc a good charity to donate to?
D C Surface Transit Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $1K. Assets: $125K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for D C Surface Transit Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for D C Surface Transit Inc is 201524790. 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 D C Surface Transit Inc spend its money?
D C Surface Transit Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify D C Surface Transit Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify D C Surface Transit Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 201524790 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
D C Surface Transit Inc demonstrates a generally stable financial position over the past decade, with assets consistently exceeding liabilities. For instance, in 2023, assets were $238,130 against liabilities of $17,296, indicating a healthy balance sheet. While there have been fluctuations in revenue and expenses, such as a significant revenue spike to $615,985 in 2020 and a corresponding expense increase, the organization has largely managed to maintain positive net assets. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure, which can be a positive indicator of efficiency and dedication to mission, though it also means less insight into specific compensation practices.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data. However, the consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a strong positive for efficiency, as it minimizes overhead in this area. The organization's financial health appears sound, with sufficient assets to cover liabilities and a history of generating revenue to support its operations. The most recent period (2023) shows expenses slightly exceeding revenue ($191,202 vs. $182,850), resulting in a minor deficit, but this is not uncommon for nonprofits and is offset by prior years' surpluses and substantial assets.
Transparency is generally good given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods. The public availability of these filings allows for scrutiny of their financial activities. The lack of reported officer compensation enhances transparency by showing that no significant portion of funds is allocated to executive salaries, which is often a point of concern for donors. However, without a detailed breakdown of other expenses, a complete picture of how funds are allocated across programs, administration, and fundraising remains somewhat opaque from the provided summary data.