Is Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc Legit?

Quick charity verification for Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc (EIN: 161411913)

Verdict: Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc appears trustworthy

85/100Mission Score

$2.0MRevenue

$1.6MAssets

2Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Lack of detailed executive compensation information (0% reported across all filings, which is unusual for an organization of this size)
Slight deficit in the most recent fiscal period (202312), where expenses exceeded revenue by $32,900.

Strengths

Consistent financial reporting with 14 IRS 990 filings.
Significant growth in assets from $483,415 in 2015 to $1,538,340 in 2023, indicating strong financial management.
Generally stable revenue generation, consistently around $1.3M - $1.9M in recent years (excluding 2020 pandemic impact).
No reported officer compensation, potentially indicating high efficiency in executive overhead.

Spending Breakdown

How Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc 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 Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc

Is Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc (EIN: 161411913) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc a good charity to donate to?

Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $2.0M. Assets: $1.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc is 161411913. 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 Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc spend its money?

Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 161411913 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

The Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Organization Inc. demonstrates generally stable financial health, with revenues consistently exceeding or closely matching expenses in most recent years. For instance, in 2022, revenue of $1,742,959 exceeded expenses of $1,630,759, indicating a surplus. While the 2023 filing shows a slight deficit with expenses ($1,953,947) exceeding revenue ($1,921,047), this is a minor fluctuation in the context of their overall financial history. The organization's assets have shown significant growth over the past decade, increasing from $483,415 in 2015 to $1,538,340 in 2023, suggesting prudent financial management and accumulation of resources. Their liabilities have also increased, but at a slower rate than assets, indicating a strengthening balance sheet.

Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses from the provided data, a precise assessment is challenging. However, the consistent operation of a large-scale festival suggests a significant portion of expenses are likely program-related. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable aspect of their financial structure, potentially indicating a volunteer-led executive team or compensation below reporting thresholds, which could contribute to lower administrative overhead. 

In terms of transparency, the organization has a robust filing history with 14 IRS 990 filings, indicating consistent compliance with reporting requirements. The lack of reported officer compensation, while potentially efficient, also means less detail is available regarding executive remuneration, which can sometimes be a point of scrutiny for transparency. Overall, the organization appears to be financially sound and compliant with its reporting obligations.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

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