Quick charity verification for Mcdowell Foundation (EIN: 136172492)
Verdict: Mcdowell Foundation appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$1.2MRevenue
$3.2MAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Inconsistent revenue generation with significant year-over-year fluctuations (e.g., $1,059,096 in 2021 vs. $221,945 in 2023).
Expenses frequently exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., 2023 and 2022), indicating potential operational deficits.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering a full efficiency analysis.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
Strong and growing asset base, increasing from $903,988 in 2011 to $2,954,869 in 2023, demonstrating financial stability.
Extremely low liabilities, often reported as $1, indicating minimal debt and strong solvency.
Spending Breakdown
How Mcdowell Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
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 Mcdowell Foundation
Is Mcdowell Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Mcdowell Foundation (EIN: 136172492) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Mcdowell Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Mcdowell Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $1.2M. Assets: $3.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Mcdowell Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Mcdowell Foundation is 136172492. 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 Mcdowell Foundation spend its money?
Mcdowell Foundation allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Mcdowell Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Mcdowell Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 136172492 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 Mcdowell Foundation exhibits inconsistent financial performance, with revenue fluctuating significantly over the past decade, ranging from a low of $24,263 in 2011 to a high of $1,059,096 in 2021. In recent years, expenses have frequently exceeded revenue, as seen in 2023 ($346,510 expenses vs. $221,945 revenue) and 2022 ($392,739 expenses vs. $193,576 revenue), indicating a reliance on prior year surpluses or asset drawdowns. Despite these operational deficits, the organization maintains a healthy asset base, with assets growing from $903,988 in 2011 to $2,954,869 in 2023, suggesting prudent asset management or significant past contributions.
The foundation's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is a positive indicator of efficient use of funds at the executive level. The organization's liabilities have remained consistently low, often reported as $1, which points to strong financial solvency and minimal debt burden.
Transparency regarding executive compensation is excellent, with no officer compensation reported. However, the lack of detailed expense categorization (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided data limits a comprehensive assessment of spending efficiency and program focus. The significant swings in revenue and expenses year-over-year warrant closer examination to understand the underlying operational model and funding sources.