Is Lincoln School Association Legit? —…

Strengths

Consistent revenue growth from $4,828,660 in 2011 to $5,429,612 in 2018.
Strong asset growth, nearly doubling from $5,190,518 to $9,678,337.
Consistent financial surpluses, indicating effective expense management relative to revenue.
No reported officer compensation across all eight filing periods, suggesting high efficiency in leadership costs.
Long and consistent IRS 990 filing history (8 filings), indicating good transparency.

Spending Breakdown

How Lincoln School Association allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

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 Lincoln School Association

Is Lincoln School Association a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lincoln School Association (EIN: 201865732) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.

Is Lincoln School Association a good charity to donate to?

Lincoln School Association has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $5.4M. Assets: $9.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Lincoln School Association?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lincoln School Association is 201865732. 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 Lincoln School Association spend its money?

Lincoln School Association allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Lincoln School Association's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Lincoln School Association's tax-exempt status using EIN 201865732 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

The Lincoln School Association demonstrates consistent financial growth and stability over the past eight years. Revenue has steadily increased from $4,828,660 in 2011 to $5,429,612 in 2018, with assets nearly doubling from $5,190,518 to $9,678,337 in the same period. The organization consistently operates with a surplus, indicating sound financial management, with the exception of 2012 where expenses slightly exceeded revenue. This consistent growth in assets and revenue suggests a healthy financial trajectory.

Spending efficiency appears strong, as the organization consistently maintains a positive net income, indicating that expenses are well-managed relative to incoming funds. While specific program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the overall financial health suggests that the majority of funds are likely directed towards its mission, given the consistent surpluses. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable aspect of its financial structure.

Transparency is generally good, with a consistent filing history of eight IRS 990 forms. The lack of reported officer compensation across all periods is a significant transparency point, indicating either a volunteer-led executive team or compensation below reporting thresholds, which is positive for donor perception. Further detailed analysis of the 990 forms would be needed to fully assess specific spending ratios and other transparency metrics.

Is Lincoln School Association Legit?

Verdict: Lincoln School Association appears trustworthy

Red Flags