Quick charity verification for District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust (EIN: 132988369)
Verdict: District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$340.5MRevenue
$888.3MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further inquiry into executive compensation structures.
Lack of detailed breakdown for program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in the provided data, making a precise efficiency analysis challenging.
Strengths
Consistent and significant asset growth over the past decade, from $260,745,593 in 2014 to $751,306,535 in 2023, indicating strong financial management.
Revenue consistently exceeding expenses, leading to healthy surpluses and asset accumulation.
Large asset base ($888,314,225) provides financial stability and capacity to fulfill its mission.
No reported officer compensation on 990s, potentially indicating very low executive overhead or alternative compensation structures.
Spending Breakdown
How District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust
Is District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust (EIN: 132988369) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust a good charity to donate to?
District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $340.5M. Assets: $888.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust is 132988369. 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 District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust spend its money?
District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust's tax-exempt status?
You can verify District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust's tax-exempt status using EIN 132988369 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 District Council 37 Benefits Fund Trust demonstrates consistent financial growth and a strong asset base. Over the past decade, its assets have grown significantly, from $260,745,593 in 2014 to $751,306,535 in 2023, indicating effective financial management and accumulation of resources. The organization consistently reports zero officer compensation, which is a notable aspect of its financial structure, suggesting that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, or that the trust is managed by an external entity. This practice, while potentially reducing administrative overhead, warrants further investigation to understand the full compensation structure for key decision-makers.
The trust's spending efficiency appears robust, with expenses generally well below revenue, leading to consistent surpluses that contribute to asset growth. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $292,392,809 against expenses of $235,467,114. The absence of reported officer compensation on the 990 forms could be interpreted as a positive for efficiency, as it suggests a very low overhead for executive leadership. However, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a precise assessment of spending efficiency across these categories is challenging. The consistent growth in assets and the positive difference between revenue and expenses suggest a financially healthy and well-managed organization, at least from a high-level perspective.