Quick charity verification for Finger Lakes Independence Center (EIN: 161330345)
Verdict: Finger Lakes Independence Center appears trustworthy
92/100Mission Score
$7.5MRevenue
$5.9MAssets
0Red Flags
5Strengths
No red flags identified.
Strengths
Consistent revenue and asset growth over a decade (e.g., revenue from $2.4M in 2014 to $5.1M in 2023).
Zero reported officer compensation across all 13 filings, indicating high efficiency in leadership costs.
Low liabilities relative to assets (e.g., $43,191 liabilities vs. $4,298,780 assets in 2023), suggesting strong financial stability.
Consistent filing of IRS 990s, demonstrating transparency.
Expenses generally align closely with revenue, indicating efficient use of funds for current operations.
Spending Breakdown
How Finger Lakes Independence Center allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
7%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
3%
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 Independence Center
Is Finger Lakes Independence Center a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Finger Lakes Independence Center (EIN: 161330345) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 92/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Finger Lakes Independence Center a good charity to donate to?
Finger Lakes Independence Center has a Mission Score of 92/100. Revenue: $7.5M. Assets: $5.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Finger Lakes Independence Center?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Finger Lakes Independence Center is 161330345. 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 Independence Center spend its money?
Finger Lakes Independence Center allocates 90% to programs, 7% to administration, and 3% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Finger Lakes Independence Center's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Finger Lakes Independence Center's tax-exempt status using EIN 161330345 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 Independence Center demonstrates a consistent financial history with steady growth in revenue and assets over the past decade. For instance, revenue grew from $2,421,220 in 2014 to $5,124,991 in 2023, and assets increased from $2,011,673 to $4,298,780 in the same period. The organization generally operates with expenses closely aligned to or slightly exceeding revenue in recent years, as seen in 2023 where expenses were $5,274,947 against revenue of $5,124,991. This indicates a focus on utilizing funds for current operations rather than accumulating large surpluses.
Spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given the consistent 0% reported officer compensation across all available filings. This suggests that the organization's leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990, which is a positive indicator for resource allocation directly to mission-related activities. The low liabilities relative to assets, such as $43,191 in liabilities against $4,298,780 in assets in 2023, also points to sound financial management and minimal debt burden.
Transparency is bolstered by the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, with 13 filings available, indicating a commitment to public disclosure. The absence of reported officer compensation is a significant transparency point, as it removes a common area of concern for donors regarding executive pay. Overall, the financial data suggests a well-managed organization with a strong focus on its mission and efficient use of resources.