Is Minnesota Online High School Legit?

Quick charity verification for Minnesota Online High School (EIN: 201909377)

Verdict: Minnesota Online High School appears trustworthy

80/100Mission Score

$3.8MRevenue

$2.8MAssets

2Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Consistently high liabilities exceeding assets, such as $2,992,480 in liabilities vs. $2,914,093 in assets in 2023, which could indicate financial risk.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.

Strengths

Consistent revenue growth over the past decade, from $1,259,294 in 2014 to $3,238,781 in 2023.
No reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds towards the mission.
Expenses generally kept below revenue in recent years, demonstrating operational control (e.g., $3,238,781 revenue vs. $2,803,779 expenses in 2023).
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods, indicating good transparency.

Spending Breakdown

How Minnesota Online High 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 Minnesota Online High School

Is Minnesota Online High School a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Minnesota Online High School (EIN: 201909377) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Minnesota Online High School a good charity to donate to?

Minnesota Online High School has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $3.8M. Assets: $2.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Minnesota Online High School?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Minnesota Online High School is 201909377. 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 Minnesota Online High School spend its money?

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

How can I verify Minnesota Online High School's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Minnesota Online High School's tax-exempt status using EIN 201909377 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

Minnesota Online High School demonstrates consistent financial operations, with revenues generally exceeding expenses in recent years, indicating a stable financial position. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $3,238,781 against expenses of $2,803,779. The organization's assets have also shown growth, reaching $2,914,093 in 2023, up from $345,452 in 2014. However, a notable concern is the consistently high level of liabilities, which have frequently exceeded assets, such as in 2023 where liabilities were $2,992,480 compared to assets of $2,914,093. This suggests a reliance on debt or other obligations.

Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to provide a precise assessment. However, the NTEE code B29 (Elementary & Secondary Education) suggests a strong program focus. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings indicates a commitment to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries, which is a positive sign for efficiency and donor trust. The organization's revenue has steadily increased over the past decade, from $1,259,294 in 2014 to $3,238,781 in 2023, demonstrating growth and potentially increased capacity to serve its educational mission.

Transparency appears to be strong given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods and the clear reporting of financial metrics. The absence of officer compensation is a significant positive indicator for transparency and ethical financial management. While the high liabilities warrant further investigation, the overall trend of revenue growth and expense management, coupled with no reported executive compensation, paints a picture of a financially stable and mission-focused organization.

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Disclaimer

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