Quick charity verification for Meridian Food Bank Inc (EIN: 203062024)
Verdict: Meridian Food Bank Inc appears trustworthy
95/100Mission Score
$3.1MRevenue
$1.7MAssets
1Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low reported administrative and fundraising expenses, potentially indicating some costs are categorized under program expenses or a highly volunteer-driven model that might be difficult to sustain at scale without paid staff.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of $0 liabilities, indicating strong financial management.
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting high efficiency and mission focus.
Steady growth in assets, from $1,006,579 in 2014 to $1,644,809 in 2023, enhancing long-term stability.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating transparency and compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How Meridian Food Bank Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
95%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
3%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
2%
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 Meridian Food Bank Inc
Is Meridian Food Bank Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Meridian Food Bank Inc (EIN: 203062024) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 95/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Meridian Food Bank Inc a good charity to donate to?
Meridian Food Bank Inc has a Mission Score of 95/100. Revenue: $3.1M. Assets: $1.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Meridian Food Bank Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Meridian Food Bank Inc is 203062024. 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 Meridian Food Bank Inc spend its money?
Meridian Food Bank Inc allocates 95% to programs, 3% to administration, and 2% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Meridian Food Bank Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Meridian Food Bank Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 203062024 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
Meridian Food Bank Inc demonstrates consistent financial health with a strong program focus. Over the past several years, the organization has maintained a healthy revenue stream, with the latest reported revenue at $2,970,835 in 2023. Their expenses are well-managed, closely aligning with revenue, indicating efficient operations. The organization consistently reports zero liabilities, which is a significant strength, suggesting sound financial management and no reliance on debt. Their assets have also shown steady growth, reaching $1,644,809 in 2023, further solidifying their financial stability.
The spending efficiency of Meridian Food Bank Inc appears to be excellent, particularly given the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings. This indicates that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through non-officer roles, which is highly unusual and suggests a very high proportion of funds are directed towards their mission. While specific breakdowns of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses are not explicitly detailed in the provided summary, the absence of officer compensation strongly implies a lean operational structure and a high percentage of spending directly on programs.
In terms of transparency, the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods is a positive indicator. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a notable point, suggesting either a highly volunteer-driven leadership or that compensation is structured in a way that isn't reported under 'officer compensation' on the 990. Further investigation into their detailed 990s would be beneficial to fully understand their operational expenses and ensure complete transparency regarding all forms of compensation and spending categories.