Is Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Legit?
Quick charity verification for Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (EIN: 203772167)
Verdict: Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shows mixed signals
55/100Mission Score
$173KRevenue
$659KAssets
3Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Significant and consistent decline in revenue over multiple years, from $636,243 in 2018 to $71,338 in 2023.
Dramatic reduction in total assets from over $15 million in 2017 to $545,572 in 2023, indicating a major contraction.
Historically high liabilities relative to assets, such as $15.3 million in liabilities against $15.5 million in assets in 2017, suggesting a highly leveraged financial structure in the past.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds for leadership costs.
Maintained positive net assets in recent years, despite significant financial contraction (e.g., $545,572 assets vs. $246,006 liabilities in 2023).
Spending Breakdown
How Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
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 Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Is Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (EIN: 203772167) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 55/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation a good charity to donate to?
Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has a Mission Score of 55/100. Revenue: $173K. Assets: $659K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is 203772167. 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 Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation spend its money?
Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's tax-exempt status using EIN 203772167 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 Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation exhibits a concerning trend of declining revenue and assets over the past several years, indicating potential financial instability. Revenue has dropped significantly from a peak of $636,243 in 2018 to $71,338 in 2023, and assets have plummeted from over $15 million in 2017 to $545,572 in 2023. While the organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which suggests good stewardship in that area, the overall financial trajectory raises questions about its long-term sustainability and operational capacity. The substantial liabilities relative to assets in earlier years, such as $15.3 million in liabilities against $15.5 million in assets in 2017, also point to a highly leveraged financial structure that has since been significantly reduced, likely through asset divestment.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of expenses being close to or exceeding revenue in many periods (e.g., $491,066 expenses vs. $476,081 revenue in 2019) suggests that the organization has been operating on thin margins or drawing down reserves. The lack of officer compensation is a positive transparency indicator, but the dramatic reduction in scale and financial resources warrants closer examination to understand the underlying causes and future viability of its economic development programs.
Given the significant changes in financial scale, a more detailed look at the nature of its assets and liabilities, particularly the large debt in earlier years, would be crucial for a complete transparency assessment. The current financial state, with $545,572 in assets and $246,006 in liabilities in 2023, represents a much smaller operation than in previous years. While the organization has maintained a positive net asset position in recent years, the overall trend of contraction is a primary concern for its financial health and ability to fulfill its mission.