Is Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast Legit?
Quick charity verification for Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast (EIN: 201310658)
Verdict: Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$2.4MRevenue
$472KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistently high liabilities relative to assets (e.g., $1,242,071 liabilities vs. $563,559 assets in 202306).
Reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, which is unusual for an organization of this size.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary data, hindering efficiency assessment.
Strengths
Consistent revenue generation, with latest revenue at $2,382,220.
Stable operations with revenues generally covering expenses in recent periods (e.g., 202306 revenue $2,174,650 vs. expenses $2,160,158).
Long filing history (13 filings) indicating consistent compliance with IRS reporting.
Spending Breakdown
How Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast
Is Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast (EIN: 201310658) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast a good charity to donate to?
Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $2.4M. Assets: $472K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast is 201310658. 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 Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast spend its money?
Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast's tax-exempt status using EIN 201310658 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
Life Skills Center Of Columbus Southeast demonstrates consistent revenue generation, with its latest reported revenue at $2,382,220. The organization's financial health appears stable, with revenues generally exceeding expenses in recent years, such as in 202306 where revenue was $2,174,650 against expenses of $2,160,158. However, a notable concern is the consistently high liabilities relative to assets. For instance, in 202306, liabilities were $1,242,071 compared to assets of $563,559, indicating a significant reliance on debt or deferred revenue. The organization's spending efficiency cannot be fully assessed without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. Transparency is good in terms of filing history, but the lack of reported officer compensation across all filings is unusual and warrants further investigation to ensure full disclosure.