Quick charity verification for New Los Angeles Charter School (EIN: 205537281)
Verdict: New Los Angeles Charter School appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$16.9MRevenue
$27.5MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation across all filings, which may obscure actual leadership compensation.
Significant increase in liabilities from $476,396 in 2021 to $6,163,377 in 2023 without clear explanation in the provided data.
Strengths
Consistent and strong revenue growth, from $3.1M in 2014 to $9.8M in 2023.
Healthy asset accumulation, growing from $1.8M in 2014 to $11.4M in 2023.
Consistent operational surpluses in most years, indicating sound financial management (e.g., $845,939 surplus in 2023).
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), demonstrating commitment to reporting.
Spending Breakdown
How New Los Angeles Charter 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
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 New Los Angeles Charter School
Is New Los Angeles Charter School a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, New Los Angeles Charter School (EIN: 205537281) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is New Los Angeles Charter School a good charity to donate to?
New Los Angeles Charter School has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $16.9M. Assets: $27.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for New Los Angeles Charter School?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for New Los Angeles Charter School is 205537281. 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 New Los Angeles Charter School spend its money?
New Los Angeles Charter School allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify New Los Angeles Charter School's tax-exempt status?
You can verify New Los Angeles Charter School's tax-exempt status using EIN 205537281 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
New Los Angeles Charter School demonstrates consistent financial growth, with revenue increasing from $3.1 million in 2014 to $9.8 million in 2023. The organization maintains a healthy asset base, growing from $1.8 million to $11.4 million over the same period, indicating sound financial management and capacity. Their liabilities have also increased, notably to $6.1 million in 2023, which warrants monitoring but is not immediately concerning given the substantial asset growth.
The school appears to be efficient in its spending, consistently operating with a surplus in most years, such as in 2023 where revenue exceeded expenses by over $845,000. A significant strength is the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which could indicate a strong commitment to directing funds towards programs. However, without a detailed breakdown of functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising), a precise assessment of spending efficiency is limited.
Transparency is generally good, with 13 filings available, demonstrating a consistent reporting history. The lack of reported officer compensation is a notable point for transparency; while it could be a positive sign of resource allocation, it also means the specific compensation structure for leadership is not immediately clear from this data. Further detail on functional expenses would enhance transparency and allow for a more granular analysis of how funds are allocated across different activities.