Quick charity verification for New York Studio School (EIN: 136167281)
Verdict: New York Studio School appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$4.3MRevenue
$7.0MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation for an organization of this size, which warrants further inquiry into how leadership is compensated or sustained.
Strengths
Consistent asset growth from $4,907,629 in 2014 to $6,912,112 in 2023, indicating strong financial management.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 periods), demonstrating commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.
Generally stable revenue streams over the past decade, supporting ongoing operations.
Low liabilities relative to assets, indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Spending Breakdown
How New York Studio School 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 New York Studio School
Is New York Studio School a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, New York Studio School (EIN: 136167281) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is New York Studio School a good charity to donate to?
New York Studio School has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $4.3M. Assets: $7.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for New York Studio School?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for New York Studio School is 136167281. 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 York Studio School spend its money?
New York Studio School allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify New York Studio School's tax-exempt status?
You can verify New York Studio School's tax-exempt status using EIN 136167281 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 New York Studio School demonstrates a generally stable financial position, with assets consistently exceeding liabilities over the past decade. While the organization experienced a slight deficit in the most recent fiscal year (202308), with expenses of $3,573,543 exceeding revenue of $3,301,842, this appears to be an anomaly in a trend of mostly balanced or surplus operations. The school's assets have grown from $4,907,629 in 2014 to $6,912,112 in 2023, indicating prudent financial management and growth. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a commitment to directing resources towards its mission rather than executive salaries, which is a strong indicator of financial health and donor trust.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses from the provided data. However, the consistent operational balance and asset growth suggest that the organization is managing its resources effectively to support its educational programs. The absence of reported officer compensation is a significant positive for spending efficiency, as it implies that leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990, which would require further investigation for complete transparency. Overall, the financial health appears sound, with a good track record of managing resources.
Transparency is high regarding executive compensation, with 0% reported for officers across all filings. However, without a detailed breakdown of functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data, a complete assessment of spending transparency is limited. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and public disclosure, which is a fundamental aspect of transparency for non-profits. The growth in assets and relatively stable revenue streams over the years further supports a picture of a well-managed and transparent organization.