Is James T Lee Foundation Inc Legit? —…

Spending Breakdown

How James T Lee Foundation Inc 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 James T Lee Foundation Inc

Is James T Lee Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, James T Lee Foundation Inc (EIN: 131878496) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is James T Lee Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?

James T Lee Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $2.2M. Assets: $750K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for James T Lee Foundation Inc?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for James T Lee Foundation Inc is 131878496. 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 James T Lee Foundation Inc spend its money?

James T Lee Foundation Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify James T Lee Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?

You can verify James T Lee Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 131878496 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 James T Lee Foundation Inc appears to be a private foundation, given its consistent revenue patterns and declining asset base over the past decade. Its financial health shows a consistent trend of expenses exceeding revenue, leading to a significant draw-down of its assets from $2,909,133 in 2011 to $1,298,942 in 2023. While the latest reported revenue is $2,170,868, this figure likely represents a specific event or investment gain, as the annual revenues in the filing history are much lower, typically under $200,000. The foundation's spending efficiency cannot be fully assessed without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent deficit spending suggests a planned distribution of assets rather than a focus on generating new revenue to cover operational costs.

Transparency regarding executive compensation is high, as the organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings. This indicates that the foundation's leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. The declining asset base, coupled with consistent expenses, suggests the foundation is fulfilling its purpose by distributing funds, but without knowing its specific mission, it's hard to gauge the impact of these distributions. The lack of an NTEE code also limits the ability to benchmark its activities against similar organizations.

Is James T Lee Foundation Inc Legit?

Verdict: James T Lee Foundation Inc shows mixed signals

Red Flags

Strengths