Is Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church Legit?
Quick charity verification for Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church (EIN: 16057970)
Verdict: Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$19KRevenue
$76KAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent deficit spending, with expenses frequently exceeding revenue (e.g., $9,868 expenses vs. $1,807 revenue in 2023).
Declining asset base over the past decade, from $112,621 in 2011 to $74,346 in 2023, indicating unsustainable financial operations without new funding.
Strengths
Zero executive compensation, indicating highly efficient use of funds regarding leadership salaries.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history, demonstrating good financial transparency over a long period.
Very low liabilities, consistently reported as $0 or $1, indicating strong financial solvency in terms of debt.
Spending Breakdown
How Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church
Is Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church (EIN: 16057970) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church a good charity to donate to?
Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $19K. Assets: $76K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church is 16057970. 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 Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church spend its money?
Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church allocates 85% to programs, 15% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church's tax-exempt status using EIN 16057970 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 Fred Forsyth Trust Fbo Elm Street Congregational Church appears to be a small, private foundation primarily focused on supporting the Elm Street Congregational Church. Its financial health shows a consistent pattern of expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years, leading to a gradual decline in assets from $112,621 in 2011 to $74,346 in 2023. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $1,807 while expenses were $9,868, resulting in a net loss. This trend suggests the organization is drawing down its principal to cover operational costs or distributions.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of expenses, as the provided data only shows total expenses. However, given its nature as a trust for a specific church, it's likely that most expenditures are direct distributions or related administrative costs. The absence of officer compensation (0% in all reported periods) indicates a lean operational structure regarding executive pay. Transparency is generally good, with consistent IRS 990 filings over the past decade, providing a clear historical financial picture, though the NTEE code is unknown, which slightly hinders classification.