Is Improving Economies For Stronger Communities Legit?
Quick charity verification for Improving Economies For Stronger Communities (EIN: 132503656)
Verdict: Improving Economies For Stronger Communities appears trustworthy
80/100Mission Score
$32.3MRevenue
$32.4MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further investigation into how executive leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
Consistent revenue growth, from $20.6M in 2021 to $30.2M in 2023, indicating strong financial support.
Healthy asset growth, nearly doubling from $16M in 2020 to $33.5M in 2023, demonstrating increasing financial capacity.
Expenses closely align with revenue, suggesting efficient use of funds and active program delivery rather than excessive accumulation.
Positive net asset position in recent years, moving from a deficit in 2017 to a surplus of nearly $3 million in 2023, indicating improved financial stability.
Spending Breakdown
How Improving Economies For Stronger Communities 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 Improving Economies For Stronger Communities
Is Improving Economies For Stronger Communities a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Improving Economies For Stronger Communities (EIN: 132503656) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Improving Economies For Stronger Communities a good charity to donate to?
Improving Economies For Stronger Communities has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $32.3M. Assets: $32.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Improving Economies For Stronger Communities?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Improving Economies For Stronger Communities is 132503656. 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 Improving Economies For Stronger Communities spend its money?
Improving Economies For Stronger Communities allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Improving Economies For Stronger Communities's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Improving Economies For Stronger Communities's tax-exempt status using EIN 132503656 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
Improving Economies For Stronger Communities demonstrates consistent financial growth over the past few years, with revenue increasing from $20.6 million in 2021 to $30.2 million in 2023. The organization consistently operates with expenses closely aligned to revenue, indicating a lean operational model. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $29.3 million against $30.2 million in revenue. The organization's assets have also shown significant growth, nearly doubling from $16 million in 2020 to $33.5 million in 2023, suggesting a healthy accumulation of resources.
The organization's financial health appears stable, with a positive net asset position in recent years, moving from a deficit in 2017 to a surplus of nearly $3 million in 2023 ($33.5M assets vs $30.6M liabilities). The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is not reported in this specific field, which could warrant further investigation for complete transparency. However, based on the available data, the organization appears to be financially sound and growing.
Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to provide a precise assessment. However, the close alignment of expenses to revenue year over year suggests that funds are being utilized rather than accumulated excessively, which is typical for active non-profits. The lack of reported officer compensation is a positive indicator for resource allocation, assuming other compensation is reasonable and transparent.