Is Dakota Area Community School Legit? —…

Quick charity verification for Dakota Area Community School (EIN: 113713786)

Red Flags

Reported $0 latest revenue and assets, indicating potential inactivity or cessation of operations.
Three out of four historical periods (2012-2014) show expenses exceeding revenue, indicating operational deficits.
High liabilities ($306,954) in 2015 significantly exceeded assets ($141,964), suggesting potential financial instability or high debt.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data prevents a full assessment of spending efficiency.

Spending Breakdown

How Dakota Area Community School allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

75%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

10%

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 Dakota Area Community School

Is Dakota Area Community School a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Dakota Area Community School (EIN: 113713786) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 45/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is Dakota Area Community School a good charity to donate to?

Dakota Area Community School has a Mission Score of 45/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Dakota Area Community School?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Dakota Area Community School is 113713786. 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 Dakota Area Community School spend its money?

Dakota Area Community School allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Dakota Area Community School's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Dakota Area Community School's tax-exempt status using EIN 113713786 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

Dakota Area Community School appears to be a small organization with fluctuating financial performance over the past four reported periods. While the organization reported revenue of $414,945 and expenses of $368,966 in 2015, resulting in a surplus, the preceding three years (2012-2014) showed expenses exceeding revenue, indicating operational deficits. For example, in 2014, expenses were $417,914 against revenues of $376,061. The organization's assets have also varied significantly, from a high of $183,416 in 2012 to a low of $52,938 in 2014, before recovering to $141,964 in 2015. A notable point is the high liabilities in 2015 ($306,954) compared to assets ($141,964), which could indicate financial strain or significant debt.

The organization's transparency regarding executive compensation is positive, with 0% reported for officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a volunteer-led executive team or compensation below reporting thresholds. However, without a breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency. The latest revenue and asset figures of $0 are concerning and suggest the organization may no longer be active or has not filed recent data, which impacts the ability to assess current financial health.

Overall, the historical data shows an organization that has struggled with consistent profitability, experiencing deficits in three out of four reported years. The significant increase in liabilities in 2015, coupled with the current $0 revenue and assets, raises questions about its ongoing operational viability and financial stability. More recent data would be crucial for a definitive assessment.

Is Dakota Area Community School Legit?

Verdict: Dakota Area Community School shows mixed signals