Is Grace Richardson Stetson Fund Legit?

Quick charity verification for Grace Richardson Stetson Fund (EIN: 208934914)

Verdict: Grace Richardson Stetson Fund shows mixed signals

65/100Mission Score

$53KRevenue

$980KAssets

3Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Consistent deficit spending: Expenses have exceeded revenue in 7 out of 9 reported periods, including the last two years (2024: $89,586 expenses vs. $25,211 revenue; 2023: $96,230 expenses vs. $34,646 revenue).
Declining asset base: Total assets have decreased from a high of $1,128,619 in 2013 to $979,535 currently, indicating a gradual erosion of the endowment.
Revenue volatility: Annual revenue fluctuates significantly (e.g., $181,812 in 2013 vs. $25,211 in 2024), making financial planning challenging.

Strengths

No officer compensation: 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating highly efficient executive leadership costs.
Substantial asset base: Maintains nearly $1 million in assets, providing a significant endowment for its grantmaking activities.
Consistent grantmaking activity: Despite financial fluctuations, the organization consistently incurs expenses, suggesting ongoing fulfillment of its mission.
Long filing history: A history of 9 IRS 990 filings demonstrates consistent transparency and compliance.

Spending Breakdown

How Grace Richardson Stetson Fund allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Grace Richardson Stetson Fund

Is Grace Richardson Stetson Fund a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Grace Richardson Stetson Fund (EIN: 208934914) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Grace Richardson Stetson Fund a good charity to donate to?

Grace Richardson Stetson Fund has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $53K. Assets: $980K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Grace Richardson Stetson Fund?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Grace Richardson Stetson Fund is 208934914. 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 Grace Richardson Stetson Fund spend its money?

Grace Richardson Stetson Fund allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Grace Richardson Stetson Fund's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Grace Richardson Stetson Fund's tax-exempt status using EIN 208934914 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 Grace Richardson Stetson Fund, with an NTEE code of H12 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations), appears to be a grantmaking organization. Its financial health shows a consistent pattern of expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years, leading to a gradual decline in assets from a peak of $1,128,619 in 2013 to $979,535 currently. For instance, in 2024, expenses were $89,586 against revenues of $25,211, and in 2023, expenses were $96,230 against revenues of $34,646. This trend suggests the organization is spending down its endowment or relying on prior years' gains, which is not sustainable without significant new funding.

The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, as the provided data only gives total expenses. However, the consistent expense levels (around $80,000-$90,000 annually) despite fluctuating revenues indicate a stable operational cost structure. A key positive is the reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, which suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure, contributing to lower overhead. The organization's transparency is generally good, with consistent annual filings available, showing its financial activities over a long period.

While the fund maintains a substantial asset base of nearly $1 million, the consistent deficit spending is a concern for its long-term viability. The lack of officer compensation is a strong point for efficiency, but without knowing how the $80,000-$90,000 in annual expenses are allocated, it's challenging to determine the true program spending ratio. The organization's mission score reflects its consistent grantmaking activity, but also acknowledges the financial sustainability challenges.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

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