Quick charity verification for Empower Play (EIN: 201573212)
Verdict: Empower Play appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$1.1MRevenue
$1.2MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Historical revenue volatility, with significant drops observed between 2014 and 2017.
Expenses exceeded revenue in several early filing periods (e.g., 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013), indicating potential operational deficits in those years.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating high dedication of resources to mission.
Significant recent growth in revenue to $1,142,978 and assets to $1,162,576, demonstrating increased financial capacity.
Generally low liabilities reported across most filing periods, suggesting sound financial management regarding debt.
Spending Breakdown
How Empower Play allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 Empower Play
Is Empower Play a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Empower Play (EIN: 201573212) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Empower Play a good charity to donate to?
Empower Play has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $1.1M. Assets: $1.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Empower Play?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Empower Play is 201573212. 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 Empower Play spend its money?
Empower Play allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Empower Play's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Empower Play's tax-exempt status using EIN 201573212 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
Empower Play has demonstrated a fluctuating financial trajectory over its filing history. While the organization reported a latest revenue of $1,142,978 and assets of $1,162,576, its historical filings show periods of significant revenue decline, such as from $128,188 in 2014 to $2,500 in 2017. This volatility suggests potential challenges in consistent fundraising or program scaling. The organization has consistently reported zero officer compensation across all available filings, which is a positive indicator of resource allocation towards its mission rather than executive enrichment. However, without detailed expense breakdowns for the latest period, it's difficult to fully assess spending efficiency beyond the historical trend of expenses often exceeding revenue in earlier years.
The organization's asset growth to over $1.1 million is a significant development, indicating a substantial increase in financial capacity compared to its earlier years where assets hovered in the tens of thousands. The consistent reporting of zero liabilities in most periods also points to sound financial management in terms of debt. The lack of officer compensation across all filings enhances its transparency profile, as it suggests a volunteer-driven or very lean leadership structure. However, the absence of detailed program, administrative, and fundraising expense ratios for the latest period limits a comprehensive assessment of its current spending efficiency.