Quick charity verification for Maine Maritime Museum (EIN: 10271477)
Verdict: Maine Maritime Museum appears trustworthy
80/100Mission Score
$4.7MRevenue
$17.2MAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent operational deficits in recent years (e.g., 2023: $1.3M deficit, 2022: $138K deficit), indicating expenses exceeding revenue.
Unusually low revenue in the latest filing ($2,760,199) compared to prior years, potentially impacting sustainability.
0% officer compensation reported across all filings, which is highly uncommon for an organization of this scale and could indicate a lack of transparency in how executive leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
Strong and growing asset base, increasing from $12.4M in 2014 to $17.0M in 2023, providing financial stability.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings), demonstrating good compliance and transparency.
Low liabilities relative to assets (e.g., $515,016 liabilities vs. $17,067,150 assets in 2023), indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Spending Breakdown
How Maine Maritime Museum allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 Maine Maritime Museum
Is Maine Maritime Museum a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Maine Maritime Museum (EIN: 10271477) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Maine Maritime Museum a good charity to donate to?
Maine Maritime Museum has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $4.7M. Assets: $17.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Maine Maritime Museum?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Maine Maritime Museum is 10271477. 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 Maine Maritime Museum spend its money?
Maine Maritime Museum allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Maine Maritime Museum's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Maine Maritime Museum's tax-exempt status using EIN 10271477 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 Maine Maritime Museum demonstrates a generally stable financial position with assets consistently above $12 million over the past decade, reaching $17,067,150 in the latest filing. While the museum experienced a deficit in 2023, with expenses of $4,103,017 exceeding revenue of $2,760,199, this follows a trend of fluctuating annual revenues and expenses. The organization's financial health appears sound, supported by its substantial asset base, which can help absorb periods of operational deficits.
The museum's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a commitment to minimizing executive overhead, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence. The organization's transparency is commendable given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s and the clear reporting of key financial metrics, including assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Further insights into specific program spending would enhance the understanding of its efficiency.