Quick charity verification for John R Gordon Fund (EIN: 136920431)
Verdict: John R Gordon Fund appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$10.3MRevenue
$184KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data
Unusual consistent 'Liabilities=$1' reported in recent filings
Modest asset base relative to annual revenue, limiting financial resilience
Strengths
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported across all filings
Stable revenue generation over a decade
Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms, indicating transparency in reporting
Spending Breakdown
How John R Gordon Fund allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 John R Gordon Fund
Is John R Gordon Fund a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, John R Gordon Fund (EIN: 136920431) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is John R Gordon Fund a good charity to donate to?
John R Gordon Fund has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $10.3M. Assets: $184K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for John R Gordon Fund?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for John R Gordon Fund is 136920431. 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 John R Gordon Fund spend its money?
John R Gordon Fund allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify John R Gordon Fund's tax-exempt status?
You can verify John R Gordon Fund's tax-exempt status using EIN 136920431 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 John R Gordon Fund demonstrates consistent financial activity over the past decade, with annual revenues generally ranging between $1.5 million and $3.1 million. The organization appears to operate on a relatively tight margin, with expenses often closely tracking revenues, as seen in 2023 where expenses of $1,727,388 slightly exceeded revenues of $1,670,491. This indicates a strategy of spending most of its incoming funds rather than accumulating large reserves. The reported assets are modest relative to its revenue, for example, $199,527 in assets against $1.67 million in revenue in 2023, suggesting a focus on immediate program delivery rather than endowment building.
The organization's financial health appears stable, though not robust in terms of asset accumulation. A notable strength is the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which suggests a high degree of volunteer leadership or that compensation is covered by other means not reported as officer compensation. This practice can contribute to greater public trust and ensure more funds are directed towards the mission. However, without a breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency. The consistent 'Liabilities=$1' in recent years is unusual and might warrant further investigation to understand its nature or if it's a reporting anomaly.
Transparency is generally good due to the availability of 10 years of 990 filings. However, the lack of NTEE code information and detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data limits a deeper analysis of its program focus and spending efficiency. The absence of officer compensation is a positive indicator for transparency regarding executive pay. To enhance transparency, providing a clear breakdown of how its expenses are allocated across programs, administration, and fundraising would be beneficial for stakeholders.