Quick charity verification for Fish Family Foundation Of Maine (EIN: 208132191)
Verdict: Fish Family Foundation Of Maine appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$41KRevenue
$83KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Recurring operational deficits (e.g., 202312: $22,513 revenue vs. $27,300 expenses)
General downward trend in assets over the long term (from $120,012 in 201112 to $73,170 in 202312)
Strengths
Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds for leadership.
Extremely low liabilities ($1 across all filings), demonstrating strong financial management and no significant debt.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating good transparency and regulatory compliance.
Stable asset base in recent years, providing a foundation for operations despite deficits.
Spending Breakdown
How Fish Family Foundation Of Maine allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Fish Family Foundation Of Maine
Is Fish Family Foundation Of Maine a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Fish Family Foundation Of Maine (EIN: 208132191) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Fish Family Foundation Of Maine a good charity to donate to?
Fish Family Foundation Of Maine has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $41K. Assets: $83K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Fish Family Foundation Of Maine?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Fish Family Foundation Of Maine is 208132191. 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 Fish Family Foundation Of Maine spend its money?
Fish Family Foundation Of Maine allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Fish Family Foundation Of Maine's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Fish Family Foundation Of Maine's tax-exempt status using EIN 208132191 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 Fish Family Foundation Of Maine demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses fluctuating over the past decade. In the most recent filing (202312), the organization reported revenues of $22,513 against expenses of $27,300, indicating a deficit for the period. This trend of expenses exceeding revenue is also observed in several other years, such as 202212 ($20,723 revenue vs. $26,460 expenses) and 202012 ($18,422 revenue vs. $30,735 expenses). The foundation maintains a modest asset base, with $73,170 in assets as of 202312, and consistently reports minimal liabilities ($1), suggesting a healthy balance sheet free from significant debt. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates a volunteer-driven leadership or that compensation is not a significant expenditure, which is a positive sign for donor confidence regarding administrative efficiency.
While the organization's financial health appears stable given its asset base and low liabilities, the recurring operational deficits suggest a reliance on prior year surpluses or investment income to cover annual expenditures. The lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data makes it challenging to fully assess spending efficiency beyond the absence of officer compensation. However, the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s demonstrates a commitment to regulatory transparency. Further analysis would benefit from a breakdown of program service expenses versus administrative and fundraising costs to fully evaluate how effectively funds are being utilized towards its mission.