Is Mercer School Legit?

Quick charity verification for Mercer School (EIN: 202931688)

Verdict: Mercer School appears trustworthy

80/100Mission Score

$149KRevenue

$4KAssets

3Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Recurring years where expenses exceed revenue, indicating potential financial instability.
Significant increase in liabilities over the past decade, reaching $36,870 in 2023, which could signal reliance on debt.
Low asset base relative to annual expenses, potentially limiting long-term financial resilience.

Strengths

Consistent 0% officer compensation, demonstrating strong commitment to mission and volunteer leadership.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 periods), indicating good transparency and compliance.
Recent positive net income in 2023 ($171,771 revenue vs. $151,257 expenses), showing improved financial performance.
Consistent operational scale, indicating a stable presence in the community.

Spending Breakdown

How Mercer School allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Mercer School

Is Mercer School a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Mercer School (EIN: 202931688) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Mercer School a good charity to donate to?

Mercer School has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $149K. Assets: $4K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Mercer School?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Mercer School is 202931688. 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 Mercer School spend its money?

Mercer School allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Mercer School's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Mercer School's tax-exempt status using EIN 202931688 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

Mercer School demonstrates consistent operational activity with revenues and expenses generally in the range of $120,000 to $170,000 annually over the past decade. The organization's financial health shows some volatility, with several years reporting expenses exceeding revenue, such as in 2022 ($147,274 expenses vs. $146,238 revenue) and 2021 ($130,173 expenses vs. $123,614 revenue). However, the most recent filing for 2023 shows a positive net income with revenues of $171,771 against expenses of $151,257, indicating a recent improvement in financial management. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a strong indicator of volunteer leadership and efficient use of funds for its mission. Assets have shown growth, from $1 in 2014 to $9,114 in 2023, though liabilities have also increased significantly over the same period, reaching $36,870 in 2023. This suggests a reliance on debt or deferred payments, which warrants further investigation.

Spending efficiency appears reasonable given the consistent operational scale and the absence of paid executive compensation. The organization's ability to operate with minimal assets and no officer compensation suggests a lean operational model. However, the recurring pattern of expenses sometimes exceeding revenue, coupled with growing liabilities, indicates potential challenges in maintaining long-term financial stability without consistent surpluses. The lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data makes a precise assessment of program versus administrative spending difficult, but the 0% officer compensation is a positive sign for donor confidence regarding executive overhead.

Transparency is generally good, as evidenced by the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods. The absence of officer compensation is a transparent and positive financial indicator. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses (e.g., program service expenses vs. management and general expenses vs. fundraising expenses), a full assessment of how funds are allocated to its mission versus overhead is limited. The consistent reporting of financial data, even with fluctuating net income, contributes to overall transparency.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.