Is Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated Legit?
Quick charity verification for Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated (EIN: 112864065)
Verdict: Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$5.5MRevenue
$5.2MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
NTEE code is unknown, limiting understanding of specific mission area.
Detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) is not provided, hindering full efficiency analysis.
Strengths
Significant revenue growth from $196,193 in 2014 to $2,028,758 in 2023.
Substantial asset growth from $239,229 in 2014 to $3,725,835 in 2023, indicating strong financial health.
No reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting efficient use of funds or volunteer leadership.
Consistent surpluses in most years, demonstrating effective financial management.
Spending Breakdown
How Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
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 Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated
Is Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated (EIN: 112864065) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated a good charity to donate to?
Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $5.5M. Assets: $5.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated is 112864065. 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 Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated spend its money?
Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated's tax-exempt status using EIN 112864065 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
Designers Lighting Forum Of New York Incorporated demonstrates fluctuating financial health over the past decade, with significant revenue and asset growth in recent years. The organization reported $2,028,758 in revenue and $1,405,343 in expenses in its latest 2023 filing, resulting in a surplus. This marks a substantial increase from earlier periods, such as 2014 where revenue was $196,193. The organization's assets have also grown considerably, reaching $3,725,835 in 2023 from $239,229 in 2014, indicating a strong build-up of reserves.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent surpluses in most years suggest effective management of overall expenses relative to income. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings indicates a potential reliance on volunteer leadership or that compensation falls below reporting thresholds, which can be a positive sign for resource allocation.
Transparency regarding executive compensation is high, as no officer compensation has been reported in any of the provided filings. However, the lack of NTEE code information and detailed expense breakdowns limits a comprehensive assessment of program focus and operational efficiency. Further details on how expenses are categorized would enhance understanding of their spending priorities.