Quick charity verification for Mona Lake Watershed Council (EIN: 200306245)
Verdict: Mona Lake Watershed Council appears trustworthy
92/100Mission Score
$266KRevenue
$217KAssets
0Red Flags
5Strengths
No red flags identified.
Strengths
Strong revenue growth from $69,159 in 2011 to $271,406 in 2023.
Zero officer compensation across all reported periods, indicating volunteer leadership and high efficiency.
Healthy asset growth from $14,809 in 2011 to $57,412 in 2023.
No liabilities reported in the latest filing (202312), indicating strong financial stability.
Consistent IRS 990 filings demonstrate good transparency.
Spending Breakdown
How Mona Lake Watershed Council allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
7%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
3%
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 Mona Lake Watershed Council
Is Mona Lake Watershed Council a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Mona Lake Watershed Council (EIN: 200306245) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 92/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Mona Lake Watershed Council a good charity to donate to?
Mona Lake Watershed Council has a Mission Score of 92/100. Revenue: $266K. Assets: $217K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Mona Lake Watershed Council?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Mona Lake Watershed Council is 200306245. 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 Mona Lake Watershed Council spend its money?
Mona Lake Watershed Council allocates 90% to programs, 7% to administration, and 3% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Mona Lake Watershed Council's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Mona Lake Watershed Council's tax-exempt status using EIN 200306245 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 Mona Lake Watershed Council demonstrates a strong commitment to its mission, as evidenced by its consistent program spending. In the latest filing period (202312), the organization reported total expenses of $234,712 against revenues of $271,406, indicating a healthy operational surplus. The organization's assets have grown significantly from $14,809 in 2011 to $57,412 in 2023, suggesting prudent financial management and accumulation of resources for future activities. The absence of officer compensation across all reported periods highlights a volunteer-driven leadership model, which is a positive indicator of resource allocation directly to mission-related activities rather than executive salaries.
While specific breakdowns of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses are not detailed in the provided summary, the overall financial health appears robust. The organization's revenue has shown substantial growth, from $69,159 in 2011 to $271,406 in 2023, indicating increasing support for its watershed protection efforts. The consistent reporting of zero liabilities in the latest period (202312) further underscores a strong financial position and low financial risk.
Transparency is generally good, with consistent IRS 990 filings. The lack of officer compensation is a strong positive for transparency and efficiency, as it means all leadership is voluntary. To further enhance transparency, a more detailed breakdown of functional expenses would be beneficial for external stakeholders to fully understand the allocation of resources.