Is Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment Legit?
Quick charity verification for Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment (EIN: 200721316)
Verdict: Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
3Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Latest filing shows $0 revenue and $0 assets, raising questions about current operational status.
Inconsistent asset reporting (e.g., $1,014 in 2020 vs. $0 in latest filing).
Expenses occasionally exceed revenue, leading to operating deficits (e.g., $60,093 expenses vs. $57,807 revenue in 2020).
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating a volunteer-led model.
No reported liabilities across all filings, suggesting financial prudence regarding debt.
Spending Breakdown
How Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment
Is Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment (EIN: 200721316) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment a good charity to donate to?
Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment is 200721316. 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 Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment spend its money?
Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment's tax-exempt status using EIN 200721316 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 Montana Cattlemens Assn Foundation For Research Education Endowment appears to be a very small organization with limited financial activity. Over the past decade, its annual revenue has fluctuated, with a peak of $57,807 in 2020 and a low of $5,890 in 2018. The organization consistently reports zero assets and liabilities in its latest filing, which contradicts previous filings showing some assets, suggesting potential data entry issues or a recent significant change in financial structure. Given its NTEE code (B82 - Livestock, Ranching & Farming), its mission likely involves supporting the cattle industry through research and education, but without detailed expense breakdowns, it's difficult to assess spending efficiency. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation indicates a volunteer-led structure, which is positive for minimizing overhead.
The organization's financial health is marginal, as evidenced by its latest filing showing $0 revenue and $0 assets, which could indicate dormancy or a significant operational shift. In previous years, expenses often closely matched or slightly exceeded revenue, such as in 2020 where expenses were $60,093 against $57,807 in revenue, resulting in a deficit. The lack of significant assets across its history suggests it operates on a very lean, year-to-year basis without building substantial reserves. Transparency is moderate; while 990 filings are available, the absence of detailed program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns makes a thorough analysis of spending efficiency challenging. The consistent reporting of no officer compensation is a strong positive for transparency regarding executive pay.
Overall, the foundation operates on a very small scale, with its financial activity fluctuating. The latest filing showing zero revenue and assets is concerning and warrants further investigation to understand its current operational status. While it appears to be volunteer-led, the lack of detailed expense categorization in the provided data limits a full assessment of its spending efficiency. Its financial health is precarious given the minimal assets and occasional operating deficits.