Is Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County Legit?
Quick charity verification for Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County (EIN: 141601549)
Verdict: Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$2.3MRevenue
$3.5MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this size and could mask executive compensation in other categories.
Frequent slight operating deficits, such as the $109,943 deficit in 2023, which could erode reserves over time if not managed.
Strengths
Consistent financial reporting and filing history over 13 periods, indicating good governance.
Assets have shown steady growth from $850,535 in 2014 to $2,459,472 in 2023, demonstrating financial stability.
Revenues consistently exceed $2 million, indicating a significant capacity to deliver services.
Spending Breakdown
How Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County 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 Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County
Is Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County (EIN: 141601549) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County a good charity to donate to?
Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $2.3M. Assets: $3.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County is 141601549. 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 Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County spend its money?
Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County's tax-exempt status using EIN 141601549 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
Housing Assistance Program Of Essex County demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues generally tracking expenses closely over the past decade. In the most recent filing (202312), the organization reported revenues of $3,287,178 against expenses of $3,397,121, indicating a slight deficit for the period. This trend of expenses often matching or slightly exceeding revenue is common for direct service nonprofits. The organization's assets have shown growth, increasing from $850,535 in 2014 to $2,459,472 in 2023, suggesting a stable, albeit not rapidly accumulating, financial position.
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a significant indicator of transparency and efficient use of funds, as it suggests that the organization's leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size. This practice, if accurately reflecting no compensation to key decision-makers, could free up more resources for program delivery. However, without further detail on how key management personnel are compensated, it's difficult to fully assess the overall compensation structure.
Overall, the organization appears to be financially stable, managing its resources to meet its mission without significant accumulation of unrestricted net assets. The consistent filing history and the reported lack of officer compensation point towards a commitment to transparency and program focus. Further analysis of the functional expense breakdown would provide a clearer picture of spending efficiency across programs, administration, and fundraising.