Quick charity verification for New York Theological Seminary (EIN: 131628150)
Verdict: New York Theological Seminary appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$4.5MRevenue
$2.4MAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent decline in revenue over the past decade (e.g., $6.1M in 2016 to $4.4M in 2021).
Significant reduction in total assets over the long term (e.g., $5.4M in 2014 to $2.3M in 2021).
Multiple years with expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 2020, 2019, 2017, 2014, 2012) indicating operational deficits.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating strong financial transparency in this area.
Positive net income in the most recent filing (2021), with revenue of $4,439,036 exceeding expenses of $4,304,912.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 11 periods, demonstrating commitment to regulatory compliance and public disclosure.
Spending Breakdown
How New York Theological Seminary allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 Theological Seminary
Is New York Theological Seminary a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, New York Theological Seminary (EIN: 131628150) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is New York Theological Seminary a good charity to donate to?
New York Theological Seminary has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $4.5M. Assets: $2.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for New York Theological Seminary?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for New York Theological Seminary is 131628150. 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 Theological Seminary spend its money?
New York Theological Seminary allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify New York Theological Seminary's tax-exempt status?
You can verify New York Theological Seminary's tax-exempt status using EIN 131628150 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 York Theological Seminary demonstrates a mixed financial picture. While the organization has consistently reported revenues and expenses in the multi-million dollar range, there has been a notable decline in both revenue and assets over the past decade. For instance, revenue decreased from $6,153,649 in 2016 to $4,439,036 in 2021, and assets dropped from $3,142,246 to $2,378,321 in the same period. However, the most recent filing (2021) shows a positive net income of $134,124 ($4,439,036 revenue - $4,304,912 expenses), indicating a recent improvement in operational efficiency.
The organization's transparency is commendable regarding executive compensation, as all filings indicate 0% officer compensation. This suggests that the leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is a strong positive for donor confidence. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 11 periods also points to a commitment to regulatory compliance and public disclosure. However, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a full assessment of spending efficiency is challenging.
Despite the declining trend in overall financial scale, the seminary appears to be managing its liabilities, which have fluctuated but remained within a manageable range relative to assets. The recent positive net income in 2021 is a good sign, but the long-term trend of decreasing revenue and assets warrants closer monitoring to ensure sustainability and continued mission delivery.