Quick charity verification for Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (EIN: 10446468)
Verdict: Kennebec Estuary Land Trust appears trustworthy
92/100Mission Score
$1.4MRevenue
$9.7MAssets
2Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low reported liabilities relative to assets, which could indicate conservative accounting or specific operational structure.
Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization of this size and asset base is highly unusual and might warrant further inquiry into how leadership is compensated, if at all, or if key roles are volunteer-based.
Strengths
Strong and consistent asset growth, nearly doubling over the last decade from $4.07M to $9.32M.
Consistent financial surpluses, with revenue regularly exceeding expenses (e.g., $2.15M revenue vs. $1.56M expenses in 2023).
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating a potential for very low administrative overhead or a highly volunteer-driven leadership structure.
Excellent financial transparency with 13 consistent IRS 990 filings.
Healthy revenue growth, increasing from $1.2M in 2014 to $2.15M in 2023.
Spending Breakdown
How Kennebec Estuary Land Trust 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 Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
Is Kennebec Estuary Land Trust a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (EIN: 10446468) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 92/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Kennebec Estuary Land Trust a good charity to donate to?
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust has a Mission Score of 92/100. Revenue: $1.4M. Assets: $9.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Kennebec Estuary Land Trust?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is 10446468. 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 Kennebec Estuary Land Trust spend its money?
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Kennebec Estuary Land Trust's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Kennebec Estuary Land Trust's tax-exempt status using EIN 10446468 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
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) demonstrates strong financial health and a consistent commitment to its mission of land conservation. Over the past decade, KELT has shown significant growth in both revenue and assets, with assets nearly doubling from $4.07 million in 2014 to $9.32 million in 2023. The organization consistently operates with a surplus, as evidenced by its 2023 revenue of $2,150,609 exceeding expenses of $1,563,121, indicating sound financial management and the ability to build reserves for future initiatives. This growth suggests effective fundraising and donor support for its conservation efforts.
In terms of spending efficiency, KELT appears to allocate a substantial portion of its resources directly to program services. While specific program spending ratios are not provided in the raw data, the consistent surpluses and asset growth suggest that the organization is not overspending on administrative or fundraising activities relative to its mission-driven work. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable indicator of transparency and potentially lower administrative overhead, allowing more funds to be directed towards conservation programs.
Overall, KELT exhibits a high degree of financial transparency, particularly through its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s and the clear reporting of zero officer compensation. The organization's steady growth in assets and revenue, coupled with responsible expense management, positions it as a financially stable and effective steward of its resources. Its focus on land conservation, as indicated by its NTEE code, is well-supported by its financial performance.