Quick charity verification for Henry L Ferguson Museum (EIN: 116015380)
Verdict: Henry L Ferguson Museum appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$9.8MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant asset drawdown in 2023 ($4.2M expenses with $0 revenue)
Inconsistent annual revenue, with multiple years reporting $0 revenue
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds for leadership
Maintains substantial assets (over $9.7M in 2023), providing financial stability
Consistently low liabilities across all reported periods
Positive net income in several years (e.g., 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014) demonstrates effective management when revenue is present
Spending Breakdown
How Henry L Ferguson Museum allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Henry L Ferguson Museum
Is Henry L Ferguson Museum a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Henry L Ferguson Museum (EIN: 116015380) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Henry L Ferguson Museum a good charity to donate to?
Henry L Ferguson Museum has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $9.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Henry L Ferguson Museum?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Henry L Ferguson Museum is 116015380. 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 Henry L Ferguson Museum spend its money?
Henry L Ferguson Museum allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Henry L Ferguson Museum's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Henry L Ferguson Museum's tax-exempt status using EIN 116015380 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 Henry L Ferguson Museum exhibits a fluctuating financial profile, with significant variations in revenue and expenses over the past several years. In 2023, the organization reported $0 in revenue against substantial expenses of $4,226,808, leading to a notable decrease in assets from $13,998,187 in 2022 to $9,763,103. This suggests a period of significant capital expenditure or investment drawdown without corresponding income. Prior years, such as 2022 and 2021, showed positive net income with revenues of $701,678 and $965,512 respectively, exceeding expenses. The museum consistently reports zero liabilities and zero officer compensation, indicating a strong balance sheet in terms of debt and a volunteer-led or minimally compensated leadership structure. The lack of revenue in several years (2023, 2020, 2019) while maintaining significant assets suggests reliance on endowment income or infrequent large donations, which can make annual financial health appear volatile. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all filings indicates a high degree of transparency regarding executive pay and a commitment to minimizing administrative overhead in this area.