Quick charity verification for Los Alamos Institutes (EIN: 208369162)
Verdict: Los Alamos Institutes has notable concerns
20/100Mission Score
$6Revenue
$12KAssets
3Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Consistently reporting $0 expenses makes it impossible to assess program activity or spending efficiency.
Extremely low revenue in most periods raises questions about operational sustainability and impact.
Lack of detailed program activity or expense breakdown makes it difficult to understand the organization's work.
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating no executive salaries.
Maintains a stable level of assets (around $38,000 in recent years) despite minimal revenue.
Spending Breakdown
How Los Alamos Institutes allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
0%
Program Spending
Concerning — less than half to programs
0%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Los Alamos Institutes
Is Los Alamos Institutes a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Los Alamos Institutes (EIN: 208369162) has notable concerns. Mission Score: 20/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Los Alamos Institutes a good charity to donate to?
Los Alamos Institutes has a Mission Score of 20/100. Revenue: $6. Assets: $12K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Los Alamos Institutes?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Los Alamos Institutes is 208369162. 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 Los Alamos Institutes spend its money?
Los Alamos Institutes allocates 0% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Los Alamos Institutes's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Los Alamos Institutes's tax-exempt status using EIN 208369162 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
Los Alamos Institutes appears to be a very small organization with minimal financial activity. In the latest reported period (202306), the organization reported only $3 in revenue and $0 in expenses, with assets of $38,298. This pattern of extremely low revenue and expenses is consistent across most of its filing history, with a few exceptions like 202106 and 201906 where revenue reached $9,569 and $15,044 respectively. The organization consistently reports $0 in officer compensation, which is a positive indicator for donor trust regarding executive pay. However, the consistently low operational figures raise questions about the actual scope and impact of its programs.
The organization's financial health is difficult to assess given the minimal activity. While it consistently holds assets (around $38,000 in recent years), its revenue is often negligible, and expenses are frequently $0 or very low. This suggests either a very limited operational footprint or that its primary activities are not reflected in significant financial transactions reported on the 990. The presence of liabilities, particularly in earlier years (e.g., $77,552 in 202106), against relatively stable assets, indicates a historical financial structure that is not immediately clear from recent filings. The lack of significant expenses makes it impossible to evaluate spending efficiency in terms of program delivery.
Transparency is generally good in terms of reporting zero compensation and consistent asset figures. However, the extremely low revenue and expense figures across multiple years, especially $0 expenses in many periods, make it challenging for an external observer to understand what the organization is actively doing or how it is achieving its mission. Without more detailed program expense breakdowns, it's hard to gauge the effectiveness of any spending.