Quick charity verification for Kauai Music Festival (EIN: 161640059)
Verdict: Kauai Music Festival appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$159KRevenue
$48KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant year-over-year revenue and expense fluctuations, making financial planning challenging.
Operating deficit in 2023 ($37,716), where expenses exceeded revenues.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of zero liabilities, indicating strong financial management and no debt.
Zero officer compensation, suggesting a volunteer-driven model and efficient use of funds.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history, demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Growth in assets over the long term, from $6,997 in 2014 to $58,517 in 2023.
Spending Breakdown
How Kauai Music Festival 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 Kauai Music Festival
Is Kauai Music Festival a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Kauai Music Festival (EIN: 161640059) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Kauai Music Festival a good charity to donate to?
Kauai Music Festival has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $159K. Assets: $48K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Kauai Music Festival?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Kauai Music Festival is 161640059. 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 Kauai Music Festival spend its money?
Kauai Music Festival allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Kauai Music Festival's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Kauai Music Festival's tax-exempt status using EIN 161640059 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
Kauai Music Festival demonstrates a fluctuating financial performance over the past decade, with revenues and expenses varying significantly year-to-year. For instance, in 2023, the organization reported revenues of $178,941 against expenses of $216,657, indicating a deficit for the year. This contrasts with 2022, where revenues of $144,399 exceeded expenses of $108,331. The organization consistently reports zero liabilities and zero officer compensation, which are positive indicators of financial stability and a volunteer-driven leadership model. However, the lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data makes a precise assessment of spending efficiency challenging. The asset base has grown over time, from $6,997 in 2014 to $58,517 in 2023, suggesting some accumulation of resources, though it remains modest relative to its annual operating budget.
The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all filings indicates a strong reliance on volunteer leadership, which can be a positive for donor confidence as it suggests resources are directed towards programs rather than executive salaries. However, without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising), it's difficult to ascertain the true efficiency of their spending. The organization's transparency is good in terms of filing its 990s consistently and reporting key financial figures, but more granular expense data would enhance a full financial health assessment. The absence of liabilities is a significant strength, indicating sound financial management in avoiding debt.