Is Londonderry Trailways Legit?

Quick charity verification for Londonderry Trailways (EIN: 20520235)

Verdict: Londonderry Trailways shows mixed signals

65/100Mission Score

$30KRevenue

$129KAssets

4Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Highly volatile revenue streams (e.g., $394,986 in 2016 vs. $12,658 in 2024)
Expenses frequently exceeding revenue (e.g., $38,204 expenses vs. $12,658 revenue in 2024)
Significant net losses in multiple periods (e.g., -$116,197 in 2020)
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in provided data, limiting spending efficiency analysis

Strengths

Consistent reporting of zero liabilities across all filings, indicating strong debt management
No reported officer compensation, suggesting potential volunteer leadership or highly efficient executive costs
Maintained a healthy asset base relative to recent revenues (e.g., $156,802 assets vs. $12,658 revenue in 2024)
Long filing history (9 filings) demonstrates consistent compliance with IRS reporting

Spending Breakdown

How Londonderry Trailways allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

70%

Program Spending

Below average — room for improvement

20%

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 Londonderry Trailways

Is Londonderry Trailways a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Londonderry Trailways (EIN: 20520235) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Londonderry Trailways a good charity to donate to?

Londonderry Trailways has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $30K. Assets: $129K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Londonderry Trailways?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Londonderry Trailways is 20520235. 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 Londonderry Trailways spend its money?

Londonderry Trailways allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Londonderry Trailways's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Londonderry Trailways's tax-exempt status using EIN 20520235 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

Londonderry Trailways demonstrates a mixed financial picture. While the organization has consistently maintained zero liabilities across all reported periods, indicating sound financial management in avoiding debt, its revenue and expense figures show significant volatility. For instance, revenue plunged from $394,986 in 2016 to $16,027 in 2019, before rebounding to $57,146 in 2022 and then dropping again to $12,658 in 2024. This inconsistency makes long-term financial planning and impact assessment challenging. The organization's assets have fluctuated considerably, peaking at $206,446 in 2019 and currently standing at $156,802, which is a healthy reserve given its recent revenue levels.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully ascertain without a detailed breakdown of expenses beyond total figures. However, in the most recent period (2024), expenses ($38,204) significantly exceeded revenue ($12,658), resulting in a net loss. This trend of expenses occasionally outstripping revenue is also visible in 2020 ($139,014 expenses vs. $22,817 revenue) and 2016 ($368,656 expenses vs. $394,986 revenue, a smaller margin). The lack of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests that leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation, which can be a positive for program efficiency if true. However, without a functional expense breakdown, it's hard to definitively assess how much of the spending directly supports program activities versus administrative or fundraising costs.

Transparency is generally good regarding the availability of 990 filings and consistent reporting of zero liabilities and officer compensation. However, the absence of detailed functional expense breakdowns in the provided data limits a deeper analysis of how funds are allocated between programs, administration, and fundraising. For an organization of its size, this level of detail is often expected to fully assure donors of efficient resource utilization. The significant swings in revenue and expenses over the years warrant closer examination to understand the underlying operational stability and funding model.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.