Is Howland Housing Corporation Legit?

Quick charity verification for Howland Housing Corporation (EIN: 10340261)

Verdict: Howland Housing Corporation shows mixed signals

65/100Mission Score

$116KRevenue

$115KAssets

3Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Expenses exceeded revenue in multiple recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018), indicating potential operational deficits.
Significant decline in total assets over the past decade, from $189,199 in 2014 to $106,589 in 2023.
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data makes a full efficiency assessment challenging.

Strengths

Consistent revenue generation, typically above $100,000 annually.
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting very low executive overhead.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings), indicating good transparency.
Significant reduction in liabilities from $108,177 in 2014 to $5,939 in 2023.

Spending Breakdown

How Howland Housing Corporation 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 Howland Housing Corporation

Is Howland Housing Corporation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Howland Housing Corporation (EIN: 10340261) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Howland Housing Corporation a good charity to donate to?

Howland Housing Corporation has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $116K. Assets: $115K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Howland Housing Corporation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Howland Housing Corporation is 10340261. 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 Howland Housing Corporation spend its money?

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

How can I verify Howland Housing Corporation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Howland Housing Corporation's tax-exempt status using EIN 10340261 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

Howland Housing Corporation, operating in Howland, ME, demonstrates consistent revenue generation, typically around $100,000-$115,000 annually. However, the organization has experienced periods where expenses exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($122,065 expenses vs. $116,578 revenue) and 2022 ($116,660 expenses vs. $109,598 revenue), leading to a decline in assets from a high of $189,199 in 2014 to $106,589 in 2023. This trend suggests a need for closer monitoring of operational efficiency or revenue diversification to ensure long-term financial stability.

The organization's transparency is bolstered by its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, with 13 filings available. A notable aspect is the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which indicates that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through non-officer roles, contributing to lower administrative overhead. However, without a detailed breakdown of functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) in the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The declining asset base and increasing liabilities in earlier years (e.g., $108,177 liabilities in 2014) warrant attention, though liabilities have significantly decreased to $5,939 by 2023, which is a positive development.

Overall, while Howland Housing Corporation maintains a steady revenue stream and exhibits good transparency through its filings and zero reported officer compensation, the recent trend of expenses exceeding revenue and the historical decline in assets suggest potential financial pressures. A deeper dive into the allocation of expenses would provide a clearer picture of its spending efficiency and program impact.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.