Is Great Adventure Ministries Legit? —…

Red Flags

Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and could indicate a lack of transparency regarding leadership compensation.
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising) in the provided data, making it difficult to assess true spending efficiency.
Multiple periods where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 202312, 202212, 202012), which could indicate reliance on reserves or unsustainable spending patterns if not balanced by other periods.

Spending Breakdown

How Great Adventure Ministries allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

70%

Program Spending

Below average — room for improvement

20%

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 Great Adventure Ministries

Is Great Adventure Ministries a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Great Adventure Ministries (EIN: 201465560) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Great Adventure Ministries a good charity to donate to?

Great Adventure Ministries has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $406K. Assets: $139K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Great Adventure Ministries?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Great Adventure Ministries is 201465560. 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 Great Adventure Ministries spend its money?

Great Adventure Ministries allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Great Adventure Ministries's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Great Adventure Ministries's tax-exempt status using EIN 201465560 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

Great Adventure Ministries demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses generally in a similar range over the past decade. The organization's latest reported revenue is $406,249, with assets of $138,987. A notable aspect of their financial health is the absence of reported officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting a volunteer-led or very lean administrative structure, which can be a positive indicator of resource allocation directly to mission. However, the consistent reporting of zero officer compensation could also indicate a lack of transparency if compensation is being paid through other means not captured in this specific line item.

Spending efficiency appears to be a mixed bag. While the organization consistently reports expenses close to or exceeding revenue in several periods (e.g., 202312: Expenses $200,356 vs. Revenue $193,790; 202212: Expenses $151,852 vs. Revenue $121,251), this could be due to timing differences in grants or donations. The lack of detailed functional expense breakdowns (program, administrative, fundraising) in the provided data makes a precise assessment of spending efficiency challenging. Without this breakdown, it's difficult to ascertain what percentage of funds directly supports program activities versus overhead.

Transparency, based solely on the provided data, is moderate. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods is a positive sign of compliance. However, the absence of officer compensation, while potentially a strength, also raises questions about how leadership is compensated or if it is entirely volunteer-driven. Further, the lack of NTEE code and detailed expense breakdowns limits a comprehensive understanding of their operational focus and efficiency. To improve transparency, the organization could provide more detailed functional expense reporting and clarify the nature of its leadership compensation.

Is Great Adventure Ministries Legit?

Verdict: Great Adventure Ministries shows mixed signals