Quick charity verification for Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association (EIN: 10343953)
Verdict: Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Latest filing shows $0 revenue and assets, a significant and unexplained deviation from previous years' active financial reporting.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in provided data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a volunteer-driven leadership or very modest executive pay.
Historically maintained significant assets (over $2 million in 2014), suggesting a strong financial foundation in prior periods.
Positive net income in several years (e.g., $106,564 in 2014, $55,573 in 2013), indicating financial prudence in those periods.
Spending Breakdown
How Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association 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 Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association
Is Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association (EIN: 10343953) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association a good charity to donate to?
Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association is 10343953. 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 Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association spend its money?
Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association's tax-exempt status using EIN 10343953 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 Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association appears to be a small, community-focused organization with fluctuating financial activity. While the latest filing shows $0 in revenue and assets, this is likely an anomaly or a simplified filing, as previous years indicate active operations. For instance, in 2014, the organization reported $287,755 in revenue and held over $2.1 million in assets, suggesting a significant capacity for its mission. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates a volunteer-driven leadership or that compensation falls below reporting thresholds, which is a positive sign for donor confidence regarding executive pay. However, the lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data makes a precise assessment of spending efficiency challenging. The significant drop to $0 revenue and assets in the latest filing, without further context, raises questions about the organization's current operational status or reporting practices, impacting overall transparency.