Is Maine Restaurant Association Legit? —…

Spending Breakdown

How Maine Restaurant Association 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 Restaurant Association

Is Maine Restaurant Association a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Maine Restaurant Association (EIN: 10514370) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Maine Restaurant Association a good charity to donate to?

Maine Restaurant Association has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $566K. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Maine Restaurant Association?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Maine Restaurant Association is 10514370. 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 Restaurant Association spend its money?

Maine Restaurant Association allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Maine Restaurant Association's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Maine Restaurant Association's tax-exempt status using EIN 10514370 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 Restaurant Association demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues generally in the range of $500,000 to $600,000 over the past several years, though there was a notable dip in 201612 to $201,775. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a strong indicator of transparency and a focus on mission-related spending rather than executive enrichment. While the provided data lacks a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, the consistent reporting of assets and liabilities across multiple periods suggests a stable financial operation. The organization's assets have grown significantly from $211,992 in 201105 to $486,759 in 201712, indicating prudent financial management and accumulation of reserves.

However, a critical piece of information missing from the provided data is the detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising). Without this, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency and determine the true proportion of funds directly supporting their mission. The organization's consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over eight periods indicates a commitment to regulatory compliance and basic financial transparency. The absence of any reported officer compensation is a significant positive for transparency and suggests that the organization's leadership is not drawing a salary, which is unusual for an organization of this size and could imply that leadership roles are voluntary or compensated through other means not captured in 'Officer Comp'.

Overall, the Maine Restaurant Association appears to be a financially stable organization with a good track record of asset growth and no reported officer compensation. The primary area for further assessment regarding financial health and spending efficiency would be a detailed breakdown of their expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, which is not available in the provided summary data. The consistent revenue and expense figures, along with asset growth, suggest a well-managed entity, but the lack of detailed expense allocation prevents a definitive conclusion on spending efficiency.

Is Maine Restaurant Association Legit?

Verdict: Maine Restaurant Association appears trustworthy

Red Flags

Strengths