Quick charity verification for Muskie Fund For Legal Services (EIN: 10505878)
Verdict: Muskie Fund For Legal Services appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$92KRevenue
$19KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Small operating budget with limited financial reserves
Occasional periods where expenses exceed revenue (e.g., 202312, 202212)
Strengths
Zero officer compensation reported across all filings
Consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings)
No reported liabilities or debt
Stable asset base for a small organization
Spending Breakdown
How Muskie Fund For Legal Services allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Muskie Fund For Legal Services
Is Muskie Fund For Legal Services a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Muskie Fund For Legal Services (EIN: 10505878) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Muskie Fund For Legal Services a good charity to donate to?
Muskie Fund For Legal Services has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $92K. Assets: $19K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Muskie Fund For Legal Services?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Muskie Fund For Legal Services is 10505878. 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 Muskie Fund For Legal Services spend its money?
Muskie Fund For Legal Services allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Muskie Fund For Legal Services's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Muskie Fund For Legal Services's tax-exempt status using EIN 10505878 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 Muskie Fund For Legal Services appears to be a small, consistently operating nonprofit with a focus on its program services. Over the past several years, its revenues and expenses have fluctuated, but generally remain in a similar range, with the latest reported revenue at $56,412 and expenses at $56,472 for the 202312 period. The organization consistently reports zero liabilities and zero officer compensation, indicating a lean operational structure and a commitment to directing funds towards its mission rather than executive salaries. While the asset base is modest, typically ranging from $9,976 to $31,215, this is not uncommon for smaller organizations that primarily act as pass-through entities for grants or direct service funding.
Spending efficiency is difficult to precisely determine without a detailed breakdown of program vs. administrative expenses within the provided data. However, the consistent reporting of no officer compensation suggests a high degree of efficiency in terms of leadership costs. The organization's financial health appears stable, albeit with periods where expenses slightly exceed revenue, such as in 202312 ($56,472 expenses vs. $56,412 revenue) and 202212 ($61,925 expenses vs. $51,695 revenue). These deficits are relatively small and do not appear to significantly impact the organization's ability to operate, given its consistent asset levels and zero liabilities.
Transparency is generally good, with consistent IRS 990 filings over 13 periods. The absence of officer compensation is a positive indicator of financial stewardship. To further enhance transparency, a more detailed public breakdown of program spending versus administrative and fundraising costs would be beneficial, though for an organization of this size, such detailed reporting might be less critical if most funds are directly disbursed for legal services.