Is Friends Of Bayou St John Legit? —…

Spending Breakdown

How Friends Of Bayou St John 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 Friends Of Bayou St John

Is Friends Of Bayou St John a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Friends Of Bayou St John (EIN: 203461817) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Friends Of Bayou St John a good charity to donate to?

Friends Of Bayou St John has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $760K. Assets: $203K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Friends Of Bayou St John?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Friends Of Bayou St John is 203461817. 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 Friends Of Bayou St John spend its money?

Friends Of Bayou St John allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Friends Of Bayou St John's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Friends Of Bayou St John's tax-exempt status using EIN 203461817 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

Friends Of Bayou St John demonstrates a fluctuating financial performance over the past decade, with recent years showing expenses exceeding revenue. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $882,361 against revenues of $838,071, and in 2022, expenses were $828,520 against revenues of $637,743. This trend of operating at a deficit in recent periods could indicate reliance on prior year reserves or other funding sources not reflected in annual revenue figures, or it could signal a need for more robust fundraising or expense management. The organization's assets have grown significantly from $10,272 in 2019 to $251,263 in 2023, which is a positive sign of increasing financial capacity, although liabilities have also increased, reaching $151,736 in 2023.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a strong commitment to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries, which is a positive indicator of efficiency and donor trust. The organization's transparency regarding executive compensation is excellent, as it consistently reports no officer compensation.

Overall, while the organization shows strong growth in assets and excellent transparency regarding executive pay, the recent trend of expenses outpacing revenue warrants closer examination. Donors might want to inquire about the specific allocation of expenses to program activities versus administrative and fundraising costs to fully understand spending efficiency. The significant increase in liabilities also merits attention to ensure long-term financial stability.

Is Friends Of Bayou St John Legit?

Verdict: Friends Of Bayou St John appears trustworthy

Red Flags

Strengths