Quick charity verification for Downtown English (EIN: 200646954)
Verdict: Downtown English appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$408KRevenue
$193KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Periods of expenses exceeding revenue in prior years (e.g., 201912, 201812, 201712, 201512, 201212), indicating potential operational deficits.
Lack of detailed spending breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data makes precise efficiency assessment difficult.
Strengths
Significant revenue growth in the latest filing period (202012) to $407,826.
Substantial increase in assets to $192,946 in 202012, improving financial stability.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, suggesting efficient use of funds for leadership.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), indicating consistent transparency and compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How Downtown English 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 Downtown English
Is Downtown English a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Downtown English (EIN: 200646954) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Downtown English a good charity to donate to?
Downtown English has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $408K. Assets: $193K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Downtown English?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Downtown English is 200646954. 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 Downtown English spend its money?
Downtown English allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Downtown English's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Downtown English's tax-exempt status using EIN 200646954 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
Downtown English demonstrates a generally healthy financial trajectory, particularly in its most recent filing period (202012) where revenue significantly outpaced expenses ($407,826 vs. $256,137), leading to a substantial increase in assets to $192,946. This marks a strong recovery and growth compared to previous years, which often saw expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 201912, 201812). The organization's asset base has grown considerably, indicating improved financial stability.
Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a precise assessment is challenging. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a commitment to minimizing overhead in leadership salaries, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence. The organization's NTEE code P80 (Adult Education Programs) suggests a direct service mission, and the revenue growth implies increasing capacity to deliver on this mission.
Transparency appears strong given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over a decade and the clear reporting of key financial metrics. The absence of officer compensation is a notable transparency point, indicating that leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation, which would typically be disclosed. Overall, Downtown English appears to be a financially stable and growing organization with good transparency practices.