Is John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School Legit?

Quick charity verification for John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School (EIN: 134121582)

Verdict: John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School appears trustworthy

85/100Mission Score

$12.2MRevenue

$18.3MAssets

2Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Significant, unexplained increase in assets and liabilities in the latest filing (assets from $4.5M to $18.5M, liabilities from $1.8M to $15.1M in 202306).
Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $10 million in revenue, which is highly unusual and warrants further inquiry into how leadership is compensated or structured.

Strengths

Consistent revenue generation, generally exceeding or closely matching expenses over the past decade.
Strong transparency regarding executive compensation, with 0% reported for officers.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 12 periods, demonstrating regulatory compliance.
Positive net assets, indicating financial stability (e.g., $18,545,456 assets vs. $15,161,560 liabilities in 202306).

Spending Breakdown

How John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

90%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

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 John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School

Is John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School (EIN: 134121582) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School a good charity to donate to?

John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $12.2M. Assets: $18.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School is 134121582. 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 V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School spend its money?

John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School allocates 90% to programs, 5% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School's tax-exempt status?

You can verify John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School's tax-exempt status using EIN 134121582 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

John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School demonstrates a generally stable financial profile with consistent revenue and expense levels over the past decade. The organization's latest revenue of $12,186,105 and assets of $18,279,913 indicate a significant operational scale. A notable financial event is the substantial increase in assets and liabilities in the 202306 period, with assets jumping from $4,512,307 in 202206 to $18,545,456 and liabilities rising from $1,858,177 to $15,161,560. This suggests a major capital investment or financing activity, such as acquiring property or significant debt, which warrants further investigation to understand its long-term implications for financial health. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a strong indicator of transparency and a commitment to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries.

Spending efficiency appears reasonable, with expenses generally tracking closely to revenue, indicating that the organization is spending what it brings in to support its programs. For instance, in 202306, expenses were $10,111,803 against revenues of $10,634,189, showing a slight surplus. The absence of reported officer compensation is a significant positive for spending efficiency, as it eliminates a common area of concern for nonprofits. However, without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising), a precise assessment of spending efficiency across different categories is limited.

Transparency is high regarding executive compensation, with 0% reported for officers. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 12 periods also demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and public disclosure. The significant shift in assets and liabilities in the most recent period, while potentially a red flag if unexplained, is publicly disclosed through the 990 filings, allowing for scrutiny. Overall, the organization appears to be financially sound and transparent in its reporting, though the recent balance sheet changes would benefit from additional context.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

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