Is Growth Legit?

Red Flags

Consistent decline in total assets over the past decade (from $142.6M in 2014 to $91.6M in 2023).
High liabilities consistently mirroring assets, suggesting potential reliance on debt or specific asset-backed financing.
0% reported officer compensation across all 14 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale and could indicate a lack of transparency in executive remuneration.

Spending Breakdown

How Growth 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 Growth

Is Growth a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Growth (EIN: 200962371) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Growth a good charity to donate to?

Growth has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $13.6M. Assets: $91.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Growth?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Growth is 200962371. 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 Growth spend its money?

Growth allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Growth's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Growth's tax-exempt status using EIN 200962371 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

Growth, operating in Summerville, SC, demonstrates a consistent pattern of spending nearly all its revenue on expenses, as evidenced by its 202306 filing where revenue was $4,783,152 and expenses were $4,780,138. This indicates a tight operational budget with little surplus. However, the organization's assets have been steadily declining over the past decade, from $142,620,000 in 2014 to $91,659,422 in 2023, while liabilities have remained proportionally high, often mirroring assets. This trend suggests a potential reliance on debt or a significant draw-down of reserves.

The organization's financial health appears stable in terms of day-to-day operations, as expenses closely track revenue. However, the substantial and continuous decrease in assets, coupled with high liabilities, warrants closer examination. The lack of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is not reported in a standard manner, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs. Without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency, but the overall financial picture suggests an organization managing its immediate cash flow effectively while facing a long-term decline in its asset base.

Transparency is moderate. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s is a positive indicator. However, the absence of reported officer compensation across all filings, despite the organization's size and asset base, is an unusual data point that could raise questions about the completeness of compensation disclosures. Further, without a functional expense breakdown, it's difficult to ascertain the proportion of funds directly supporting its mission versus overhead.

Verdict: Growth shows mixed signals