Quick charity verification for Essex Fells Country Club (EIN: 220895945)
Verdict: Essex Fells Country Club shows mixed signals
40/100Mission Score
$12.7MRevenue
$16.5MAssets
3Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unknown NTEE code makes mission assessment difficult
0% officer compensation is unusual for an organization of this size, potentially obscuring executive pay details
Primary benefit appears to be for members rather than the general public, typical for 501(c)(7) organizations
Strengths
Consistent revenue growth over the past decade, from $5.99M in 2014 to $11.75M in 2023
Healthy asset growth, increasing from $8.06M to $14.91M over the last decade
Consistently positive net income, indicating financial stability and sustainability
Strong financial reserves with assets significantly exceeding liabilities (e.g., $14.91M assets vs. $5.62M liabilities in 2023)
Spending Breakdown
How Essex Fells Country Club allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
5%
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 Essex Fells Country Club
Is Essex Fells Country Club a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Essex Fells Country Club (EIN: 220895945) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 40/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Essex Fells Country Club a good charity to donate to?
Essex Fells Country Club has a Mission Score of 40/100. Revenue: $12.7M. Assets: $16.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Essex Fells Country Club?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Essex Fells Country Club is 220895945. 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 Essex Fells Country Club spend its money?
Essex Fells Country Club allocates 90% to programs, 5% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Essex Fells Country Club's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Essex Fells Country Club's tax-exempt status using EIN 220895945 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
Essex Fells Country Club, despite being a nonprofit, operates more like a private club, which is typical for organizations with an 'Unknown' NTEE code that are likely social or recreational clubs. Their financial health appears stable, with consistent revenue growth over the past decade, increasing from $5.99 million in 2014 to $11.75 million in 2023. The organization consistently reports positive net income, indicating it is covering its expenses and building assets, which have grown from $8.06 million to $14.91 million in the same period.
Spending efficiency is difficult to assess without a clear program mission. As a country club, their 'expenses' are likely directly tied to member services and facility maintenance. The absence of reported officer compensation is notable, suggesting that key management might be compensated through other means or that the club operates with a volunteer board and salaried staff who are not considered 'officers' for 990 purposes.
Transparency is limited by the lack of a specific NTEE code, which makes it challenging to benchmark against similar organizations or understand their public benefit. While they file 990s, the nature of their operations as a country club means their financial activities are primarily for the benefit of their members rather than the general public, which is a common characteristic of 501(c)(7) organizations.