Quick charity verification for Great Lakes Cities Initiative (EIN: 201628958)
Verdict: Great Lakes Cities Initiative shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$1.5MRevenue
$631KAssets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Expenses frequently exceed revenue (e.g., 2023: $1,398,316 expenses vs. $1,387,600 revenue; 2022: $684,270 expenses vs. $526,645 revenue)
Significant year-over-year fluctuations in revenue and expenses, indicating potential instability in funding or operations
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, hindering efficiency assessment
No reported officer compensation, which could obscure leadership costs if not truly volunteer-led
Strengths
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 14 periods, demonstrating regulatory compliance
Significant growth in assets over time, reaching $684,797 in 2023, providing some financial buffer
Substantial revenue growth in recent years, with 2023 revenue at $1,387,600, indicating increased support or activity
Spending Breakdown
How Great Lakes Cities Initiative 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 Lakes Cities Initiative
Is Great Lakes Cities Initiative a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Great Lakes Cities Initiative (EIN: 201628958) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Great Lakes Cities Initiative a good charity to donate to?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $1.5M. Assets: $631K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Great Lakes Cities Initiative?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Great Lakes Cities Initiative is 201628958. 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 Lakes Cities Initiative spend its money?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Great Lakes Cities Initiative's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Great Lakes Cities Initiative's tax-exempt status using EIN 201628958 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 Lakes Cities Initiative demonstrates a fluctuating financial history, with significant revenue and expense variations over the past several years. While the organization reported a substantial revenue of $1,387,600 in 2023, its expenses of $1,398,316 exceeded this, resulting in a deficit for the year. This trend of expenses occasionally surpassing revenue is observed in multiple periods, such as 2022 ($684,270 expenses vs. $526,645 revenue) and 2017 ($437,827 expenses vs. $164,330 revenue), indicating potential challenges in consistent financial management or reliance on prior year reserves.
The organization's assets have shown growth, reaching $684,797 in 2023, which provides some financial stability. However, the absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a fully volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs. Without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising), it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 14 periods indicates a commitment to regulatory compliance and basic transparency.