Quick charity verification for Maritime Defense League (EIN: 116180601)
Verdict: Maritime Defense League appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$1.5MRevenue
$4.4MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in summary data makes program efficiency hard to fully assess.
NTEE Code is unknown, which can make it difficult to benchmark against similar organizations.
Strengths
Consistent and significant growth in assets, from $3,099,665 in 2019 to $4,426,932 currently.
Substantial increase in revenue, with latest revenue at $1,487,935.
Very low reported liabilities across all periods, indicating strong financial stability.
No reported officer compensation, suggesting efficient use of funds or volunteer leadership.
Spending Breakdown
How Maritime Defense League 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 Maritime Defense League
Is Maritime Defense League a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Maritime Defense League (EIN: 116180601) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Maritime Defense League a good charity to donate to?
Maritime Defense League has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $1.5M. Assets: $4.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Maritime Defense League?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Maritime Defense League is 116180601. 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 Maritime Defense League spend its money?
Maritime Defense League allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Maritime Defense League's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Maritime Defense League's tax-exempt status using EIN 116180601 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 Maritime Defense League demonstrates a strong financial position with consistently growing assets, reaching $4,426,932 in its latest filing. The organization's revenue has also shown a significant upward trend, with the latest reported revenue at $1,487,935, a substantial increase from previous years. This growth in revenue, coupled with relatively low expenses in prior periods (e.g., $22,506 in 2023 and $17,619 in 2022), suggests efficient operations or a significant portion of revenue being retained for future programs or asset growth. The organization's liabilities have remained very low, indicating a healthy balance sheet and minimal financial risk.
However, a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses is not readily available from the provided summary data, making a precise assessment of spending efficiency challenging. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led organization or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, which could impact transparency. Further investigation into the detailed expense categories would be necessary to fully understand the allocation of funds and ensure optimal program delivery.
Overall, the Maritime Defense League appears financially robust with strong asset growth and increasing revenue. The lack of reported officer compensation and detailed expense breakdowns are areas where greater transparency could be beneficial for stakeholders.