Quick charity verification for Fenimore Art Museum (EIN: 150539110)
Verdict: Fenimore Art Museum appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$24.0MRevenue
$60.8MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this size and asset base, potentially obscuring executive pay practices.
Significant revenue volatility, with a large spike in 2023, warrants further investigation into its sustainability and sources.
Strengths
Strong asset base of $60,789,580 provides financial stability and long-term capacity.
Latest revenue of $24,002,518 indicates significant financial support and potential for program expansion.
Consistently low liabilities relative to assets, indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Spending Breakdown
How Fenimore Art Museum 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 Fenimore Art Museum
Is Fenimore Art Museum a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Fenimore Art Museum (EIN: 150539110) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Fenimore Art Museum a good charity to donate to?
Fenimore Art Museum has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $24.0M. Assets: $60.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Fenimore Art Museum?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Fenimore Art Museum is 150539110. 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 Fenimore Art Museum spend its money?
Fenimore Art Museum allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Fenimore Art Museum's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Fenimore Art Museum's tax-exempt status using EIN 150539110 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
Fenimore Art Museum demonstrates a strong financial position with substantial assets, reported at $60,789,580 in its latest filing. The organization has shown significant revenue fluctuations over the past few years, with a notable spike to $22,041,209 in 2023, up from $9,430,675 in 2022 and $3,838,046 in 2021. This volatility warrants closer examination to understand the underlying sources of income, whether it's from large one-time donations, investment gains, or program expansion. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of its size and asset base, suggesting that key leadership may be compensated through other means or that the reporting method needs clarification. This lack of reported officer compensation could be a transparency concern, as it makes it difficult to assess executive pay practices.