Is Ellison Elementary School Inc Legit?

Quick charity verification for Ellison Elementary School Inc (EIN: 210725457)

Verdict: Ellison Elementary School Inc shows mixed signals

60/100Mission Score

$1.1MRevenue

$1.6MAssets

4Red Flags

2Strengths

Red Flags

Consistent decline in revenue from $1,558,188 in 2012 to $1,002,180 in 2018.
Steady decrease in assets from $2,300,684 in 2012 to $1,628,356 in 2018.
Operational deficits in multiple years where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015).
High liabilities relative to assets, with liabilities consistently over $1.4 million while assets are declining.

Strengths

Zero officer compensation reported across all filing periods, indicating strong commitment to mission over executive pay.
Long filing history (7 filings) suggests consistent compliance with IRS reporting requirements.

Spending Breakdown

How Ellison Elementary School Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Ellison Elementary School Inc

Is Ellison Elementary School Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ellison Elementary School Inc (EIN: 210725457) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 60/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is Ellison Elementary School Inc a good charity to donate to?

Ellison Elementary School Inc has a Mission Score of 60/100. Revenue: $1.1M. Assets: $1.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Ellison Elementary School Inc?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Ellison Elementary School Inc is 210725457. 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 Ellison Elementary School Inc spend its money?

Ellison Elementary School Inc allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Ellison Elementary School Inc's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Ellison Elementary School Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 210725457 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

Ellison Elementary School Inc. demonstrates a concerning trend of declining revenue and increasing liabilities over the past several years. From 2012 to 2018, revenue decreased from $1,558,188 to $1,002,180, while liabilities remained high, ranging from $1,792,311 in 2012 to $1,454,587 in 2018. This consistent decline in financial resources, coupled with persistent liabilities, suggests potential long-term sustainability challenges. The organization has consistently reported zero officer compensation, which is a positive indicator of resource allocation towards its mission rather than executive pay.

The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, which is not provided in the summary data. However, in several periods, expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 2018: $1,056,004 expenses vs. $1,002,180 revenue; 2017: $1,176,180 expenses vs. $991,644 revenue), indicating operational deficits. This pattern of spending more than it earns is unsustainable and could further erode its asset base, which has already decreased from $2,300,684 in 2012 to $1,628,356 in 2018.

Transparency regarding specific program outcomes and detailed expense allocation is limited by the provided data. While the absence of officer compensation is a strong point for transparency in executive pay, a more granular view of how funds are spent across different functions would provide a clearer picture of its operational efficiency and commitment to its educational mission. The consistent decline in assets and revenue warrants closer scrutiny.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.