Quick charity verification for Effingham Firefighters Association (EIN: 20487439)
Verdict: Effingham Firefighters Association shows mixed signals
60/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
2Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
No reported revenue or assets, making financial analysis impossible
Lack of financial activity could indicate dormancy or extremely limited operations
Strengths
Likely volunteer-driven given no reported compensation or revenue
No reported debt or liabilities (implied by $0 assets)
Spending Breakdown
How Effingham Firefighters Association allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
100%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
0%
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 Effingham Firefighters Association
Is Effingham Firefighters Association a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Effingham Firefighters Association (EIN: 20487439) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 60/100. 2 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Effingham Firefighters Association a good charity to donate to?
Effingham Firefighters Association has a Mission Score of 60/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Effingham Firefighters Association?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Effingham Firefighters Association is 20487439. 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 Effingham Firefighters Association spend its money?
Effingham Firefighters Association allocates 100% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Effingham Firefighters Association's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Effingham Firefighters Association's tax-exempt status using EIN 20487439 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 Effingham Firefighters Association appears to be a very small, volunteer-driven organization based on the provided IRS 990 data. With $0 in reported revenue and assets, it suggests that the association either operates on an extremely limited cash basis, with all funds immediately expended, or that its financial activities fall below the reporting threshold for more detailed financial statements. This lack of financial activity makes a traditional assessment of financial health, spending efficiency, and transparency challenging. Without any reported income or assets, there's no basis to evaluate spending ratios or the allocation of funds. Transparency, in this context, is limited by the absence of financial transactions to report, rather than a deliberate lack of disclosure. It's possible the organization primarily relies on in-kind donations or direct community support that isn't monetized through the association's books in a way that triggers revenue reporting on the 990-EZ form.