Is Latino Public Radio Legit?

Red Flags

Frequent operational deficits (e.g., 2022, 2017, 2016, 2015) where expenses exceeded revenue, indicating potential financial instability.
Low asset base ($39,644 latest) relative to annual revenue, suggesting limited financial reserves.
Liabilities often exceed assets (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020), raising concerns about long-term solvency.
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in summary data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.

Strengths

Consistent filing of IRS 990s demonstrates commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.
Reported 0% officer compensation across all filings indicates a highly lean or volunteer-driven leadership, potentially maximizing funds for mission-related activities.
Long operational history (13 filings) despite financial fluctuations suggests resilience and community support.
Maintains operations as a public radio station, serving a specific community need (Latino community in Cranston, RI).

Spending Breakdown

How Latino Public Radio 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 Latino Public Radio

Is Latino Public Radio a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Latino Public Radio (EIN: 205823948) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Latino Public Radio a good charity to donate to?

Latino Public Radio has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $209K. Assets: $40K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Latino Public Radio?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Latino Public Radio is 205823948. 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 Latino Public Radio spend its money?

Latino Public Radio allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Latino Public Radio's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Latino Public Radio's tax-exempt status using EIN 205823948 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

Latino Public Radio demonstrates a consistent operational presence, with revenues fluctuating over the past decade but generally staying within the $150,000 to $300,000 range. The organization's financial health shows some volatility, with several years experiencing expenses exceeding revenue, such as in 2022 where expenses were $205,628 against revenues of $187,142, and a significant deficit in 2017 with expenses of $348,742 against revenues of $271,778. This indicates a need for more stable funding or tighter expense management to build reserves. Assets have remained relatively low, with the latest reported at $39,644, and liabilities have often exceeded assets, suggesting a reliance on short-term funding or potential solvency concerns.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that a significant portion of funds is not being diverted to executive salaries, which is a positive indicator for program focus. The organization's ability to maintain operations despite fluctuating financial performance and limited asset accumulation points to a lean operational model.

Transparency appears to be adequate through its consistent IRS 990 filings. The absence of officer compensation is a notable point of transparency regarding executive pay. However, without more granular data on program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a complete picture of spending efficiency and resource allocation remains somewhat obscured. The organization's long filing history indicates a commitment to regulatory compliance.

Verdict: Latino Public Radio shows mixed signals