Quick charity verification for Essel Foundation Inc (EIN: 136191234)
Verdict: Essel Foundation Inc appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$343.8MRevenue
$270.4MAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant year-over-year revenue and expense volatility, making financial planning and stability uncertain.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering efficiency assessment.
Consistently reported 0% officer compensation for an organization with substantial assets and expenses, which is unusual and warrants further investigation into how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating resources are not being used for executive salaries.
Healthy asset growth over the past decade, from $62.6M in 201211 to $109.6M in 202312.
Generally low liabilities reported in most periods, suggesting a strong balance sheet.
Spending Breakdown
How Essel Foundation Inc 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 Essel Foundation Inc
Is Essel Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Essel Foundation Inc (EIN: 136191234) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Essel Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?
Essel Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $343.8M. Assets: $270.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Essel Foundation Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Essel Foundation Inc is 136191234. 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 Essel Foundation Inc spend its money?
Essel Foundation Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Essel Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Essel Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 136191234 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
Essel Foundation Inc. demonstrates a fluctuating financial performance over the past decade, with significant swings in both revenue and expenses. For instance, in 202311, the organization reported revenue of $30,673,863 against expenses of $14,255,859, indicating a substantial surplus. However, in the subsequent period (202312), revenue dropped to $4,405,736 while expenses rose to $6,885,594, resulting in a deficit. This volatility suggests potential challenges in consistent financial planning or a reliance on unpredictable funding sources. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is a positive indicator of resource allocation towards its mission rather than executive enrichment. While the asset base has grown considerably from $62,660,093 in 201211 to $109,687,173 in 202312, the lack of detailed expense breakdowns (program, administrative, fundraising) in the provided data makes a precise assessment of spending efficiency difficult. The low reported liabilities in most periods suggest a generally healthy balance sheet, but the overall transparency could be enhanced with more granular financial reporting.