Quick charity verification for Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 (EIN: 136998091)
Verdict: Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$78.9MRevenue
$258.2MAssets
3Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent decline in total assets over the past five years (from $351M in 2019 to $270M in 2023)
Expenses significantly exceeding revenue in recent periods (e.g., 2023 expenses were $37M while revenue was $17.5M)
Lack of NTEE code or detailed program descriptions in the provided data, limiting understanding of specific charitable activities.
Strengths
Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds for charitable purposes.
Substantial asset base ($270M in 2023) provides significant capacity for grantmaking.
Minimal liabilities ($1 or $0) across all reported periods, indicating strong financial stability.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history demonstrates transparency and compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 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 Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892
Is Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 (EIN: 136998091) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 a good charity to donate to?
Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $78.9M. Assets: $258.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 is 136998091. 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 Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 spend its money?
Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892's tax-exempt status using EIN 136998091 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 Donald A Pels Charitable Tr 081892 operates as a private foundation, as evidenced by its consistent pattern of significant asset holdings and substantial grantmaking activities. Over the past five years (2019-2023), the trust has consistently reported zero officer compensation, indicating a volunteer or unpaid leadership structure, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. However, the trust has experienced a notable decline in assets, from $351,264,098 in 2019 to $270,769,856 in 2023, alongside a trend of expenses exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., $37,033,883 in expenses vs. $17,510,786 in revenue in 2023). This suggests a strategy of spending down assets or relying on prior year gains, which is common for some foundations but warrants monitoring. The lack of detailed program spending breakdowns in the provided data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency beyond the overall expense figures.
The organization's financial health, while still robust with over $270 million in assets, shows a trend of decreasing asset base and consistent operational deficits in recent years. For instance, in 2023, expenses were more than double the revenue. This pattern, if continued without significant new contributions or investment gains, could impact its long-term grantmaking capacity. Transparency is generally good given the zero officer compensation and consistent filings, but without NTEE codes or detailed program expense breakdowns, a complete picture of its programmatic impact and administrative overhead is challenging to ascertain. The liabilities have consistently been minimal ($1 or $0), indicating a healthy balance sheet in that regard.