Quick charity verification for Grounds For Change (EIN: 204097828)
Verdict: Grounds For Change shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$3KRevenue
$7KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant and consistent decline in annual revenue from $125,455 in 2014 to $2,632 in 2018.
Expenses frequently exceed revenue in recent years, indicating potential operational unsustainability.
Declining asset base, from $20,065 in 2014 to $7,217 in 2018, suggesting reliance on reserves to cover shortfalls.
Strengths
Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms, demonstrating transparency.
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating a volunteer-driven model or very lean administrative costs.
No reported liabilities across all filings, suggesting good debt management.
Spending Breakdown
How Grounds For Change allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Grounds For Change
Is Grounds For Change a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Grounds For Change (EIN: 204097828) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Grounds For Change a good charity to donate to?
Grounds For Change has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $3K. Assets: $7K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Grounds For Change?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Grounds For Change is 204097828. 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 Grounds For Change spend its money?
Grounds For Change allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Grounds For Change's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Grounds For Change's tax-exempt status using EIN 204097828 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
Grounds For Change appears to be a very small, community-focused organization, as indicated by its modest revenue and asset figures. The organization's financial health shows a concerning trend of declining revenue, from a peak of $125,455 in 2014 to just $2,632 in the latest filing (2018). This significant drop in funding, coupled with expenses frequently exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., $4,433 expenses vs. $2,391 revenue in 2018), suggests potential operational challenges and a reliance on existing assets, which have also decreased from $20,065 in 2014 to $7,217 in 2018. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all filings indicates a volunteer-driven or very lean operational structure, which can be a sign of efficiency in smaller organizations, but also might limit capacity. Given the small scale, detailed spending breakdowns are not available in the provided summary, making a precise assessment of spending efficiency difficult beyond the overall revenue/expense balance. The consistent filing of IRS 990 forms demonstrates a commitment to transparency, even for an organization of this size.