Quick charity verification for Lobster Cove Foundation Tr (EIN: 137371039)
Verdict: Lobster Cove Foundation Tr shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$1.0MRevenue
$528KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Highly inconsistent revenue and expense patterns across filings, making financial forecasting difficult.
Latest filing (202312) shows expenses ($36,918) exceeding revenue ($34,159), indicating a deficit for that period.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering efficiency analysis.
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, suggesting a lean administrative structure or volunteer leadership.
Maintains minimal liabilities ($1) across all reported periods, indicating low debt burden.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating a commitment to transparency in reporting.
Spending Breakdown
How Lobster Cove Foundation Tr allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Lobster Cove Foundation Tr
Is Lobster Cove Foundation Tr a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lobster Cove Foundation Tr (EIN: 137371039) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Lobster Cove Foundation Tr a good charity to donate to?
Lobster Cove Foundation Tr has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $1.0M. Assets: $528K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Lobster Cove Foundation Tr?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lobster Cove Foundation Tr is 137371039. 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 Lobster Cove Foundation Tr spend its money?
Lobster Cove Foundation Tr allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Lobster Cove Foundation Tr's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Lobster Cove Foundation Tr's tax-exempt status using EIN 137371039 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 Lobster Cove Foundation Tr exhibits a highly variable financial history, with revenue fluctuating significantly across its ten reported filings. While the latest reported revenue is $1,000,436, the most recent filing (202312) shows a much lower revenue of $34,159 and expenses of $36,918, indicating a deficit for that period. The organization consistently reports minimal liabilities ($1), which is a positive indicator of financial stability in terms of debt. However, the substantial swings in revenue and expenses make it challenging to assess consistent operational efficiency or predict future financial performance.
Spending efficiency is difficult to ascertain precisely without a detailed breakdown of expenses beyond total expenses. Given that officer compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all filings, this suggests a volunteer-led or very lean administrative structure, which can be a strength in terms of keeping overhead low. However, without knowing how total expenses are allocated between program services, administration, and fundraising, a comprehensive assessment of spending efficiency is limited.
Transparency appears to be adequate in terms of filing IRS Form 990s, with ten filings available. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is a transparent disclosure. However, the lack of more granular expense data in the provided summary limits a deeper analysis of how funds are ultimately utilized for program delivery versus other overheads. The wide fluctuations in financial activity also raise questions about the consistency of their operations and funding sources.