Is Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc Legit?
Quick charity verification for Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc (EIN: 160955954)
Verdict: Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc appears trustworthy
88/100Mission Score
$21.6MRevenue
$8.2MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this scale and could indicate a lack of transparency in reporting executive pay.
Liabilities have grown significantly from $1.1 million in 2014 to $3.9 million in 2023, warranting a closer look at their nature and management.
Strengths
Strong and consistent revenue growth, more than doubling from $9.1 million in 2014 to nearly $20 million in 2023, indicating effective fundraising and grant acquisition.
Tight expense management, with expenses closely matching revenue, suggesting efficient use of funds for operations.
Significant asset growth, from $2.9 million in 2014 to $6.7 million in 2023, providing a solid financial foundation.
Consistent operational stability, with expenses generally kept in line with revenue over a decade, avoiding major deficits.
Spending Breakdown
How Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc 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 Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc
Is Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc (EIN: 160955954) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 88/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc a good charity to donate to?
Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc has a Mission Score of 88/100. Revenue: $21.6M. Assets: $8.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc is 160955954. 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 Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc spend its money?
Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 160955954 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
Legal Assistance Of Western New York Inc (LAWNY) demonstrates consistent financial growth and appears to maintain a strong focus on its program services. Over the past decade, the organization's revenue has more than doubled, from $9.1 million in 2014 to nearly $20 million in 2023, indicating robust fundraising and grant acquisition. Expenses have generally tracked closely with revenue, suggesting efficient utilization of funds to meet operational demands. The organization's assets have also shown significant growth, reaching over $6.7 million in 2023, which provides a solid financial foundation.
LAWNY's financial health appears stable, with a consistent pattern of managing expenses close to revenue, avoiding significant deficits in most years. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $19,885,833 against expenses of $19,828,547, indicating a very tight operational margin. The organization's liabilities have also grown but remain manageable relative to its assets, suggesting prudent financial management. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable aspect of its financial structure, potentially indicating a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported differently, which could be a point for further inquiry regarding transparency.
Overall, LAWNY exhibits characteristics of a financially sound and program-focused nonprofit. Its consistent growth in revenue and assets, coupled with tight expense management, points to an organization effectively scaling its operations to meet its mission. The lack of reported officer compensation is a unique feature that, while potentially positive for resource allocation, warrants clarification for complete transparency.