Quick charity verification for Lower East Side Tenement Museum (EIN: 133475390)
Verdict: Lower East Side Tenement Museum appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$17.2MRevenue
$45.4MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation, which may obscure actual executive pay if reported elsewhere.
Strengths
Consistent growth in assets, from $27.6M in 2014 to $43.3M in 2023, indicating strong financial management.
Generally positive net income (revenue exceeding expenses) in most years, demonstrating operational efficiency.
Stable liabilities relative to asset growth, suggesting responsible debt management.
Strong program focus implied by the NTEE code and consistent operational surpluses.
Spending Breakdown
How Lower East Side Tenement Museum allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Is Lower East Side Tenement Museum a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lower East Side Tenement Museum (EIN: 133475390) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Lower East Side Tenement Museum a good charity to donate to?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $17.2M. Assets: $45.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Lower East Side Tenement Museum?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lower East Side Tenement Museum is 133475390. 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 Lower East Side Tenement Museum spend its money?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Lower East Side Tenement Museum's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Lower East Side Tenement Museum's tax-exempt status using EIN 133475390 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 Lower East Side Tenement Museum demonstrates a generally stable financial position with consistent revenue streams and growing assets over the past decade. In the latest filing (202306), the organization reported revenues of $10,513,328 against expenses of $9,697,031, indicating a surplus. Total assets have steadily increased from $27,623,609 in 2014 to $43,327,482 in 2023, suggesting sound financial management and accumulation of resources. The organization's liabilities have remained relatively stable, not growing disproportionately to assets.
Spending efficiency appears reasonable, with expenses generally below revenues, allowing for asset growth. The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all available filings is a notable aspect of their transparency, indicating that no compensation was reported for officers, directors, trustees, or key employees on Part VII of the Form 990. This could mean that executive compensation is either very low, covered by other categories, or not reported in the standard manner, which warrants further investigation for a complete picture of executive pay.
Overall, the museum appears to be financially healthy and transparent in its executive compensation reporting, though the lack of reported officer compensation is an unusual data point. Their consistent growth in assets and positive net income in most years reflect a well-managed nonprofit focused on its mission.