Quick charity verification for Northern Illinois Welfare Fund (EIN: 204871642)
Verdict: Northern Illinois Welfare Fund appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$1.8MRevenue
$3.8MAssets
1Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which may obscure actual leadership compensation or operational structure.
Strengths
Consistent revenue growth, increasing from $847,485 in 2014 to $1,817,681 in 2023.
Strong asset accumulation, growing from $1,312,607 in 2014 to $3,572,845 in 2023.
Zero reported liabilities across all filings, indicating excellent financial health and low risk.
Expenses consistently well below revenue, leading to healthy surpluses and asset growth.
High mission score due to strong financial management and apparent efficiency.
Spending Breakdown
How Northern Illinois Welfare Fund allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
5%
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 Northern Illinois Welfare Fund
Is Northern Illinois Welfare Fund a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Northern Illinois Welfare Fund (EIN: 204871642) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Northern Illinois Welfare Fund a good charity to donate to?
Northern Illinois Welfare Fund has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $1.8M. Assets: $3.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Northern Illinois Welfare Fund?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Northern Illinois Welfare Fund is 204871642. 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 Northern Illinois Welfare Fund spend its money?
Northern Illinois Welfare Fund allocates 90% to programs, 5% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Northern Illinois Welfare Fund's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Northern Illinois Welfare Fund's tax-exempt status using EIN 204871642 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 Northern Illinois Welfare Fund demonstrates consistent financial growth and stability over the past decade. Revenue has steadily increased from $847,485 in 2014 to $1,817,681 in 2023, indicating a healthy ability to attract and manage funds. The organization consistently maintains a positive net asset position, with assets growing from $1,312,607 in 2014 to $3,572,845 in 2023, and reports zero liabilities across all available filings, which is a strong indicator of financial health and low risk. This suggests prudent financial management and a strong balance sheet.
Spending efficiency appears robust, with expenses generally well below revenue, leading to consistent surpluses that contribute to asset growth. For example, in 2023, expenses were $1,401,045 against revenues of $1,817,681. A notable aspect of their financial operations is the reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, which suggests that executive leadership may be compensated through other means not captured in this specific line item, or that the organization operates with entirely volunteer leadership, which would be highly efficient. Further clarity on this would enhance transparency.
Overall, the Northern Illinois Welfare Fund exhibits strong financial management, consistent growth, and a very healthy balance sheet with no reported liabilities. The lack of reported officer compensation is a significant point for further inquiry to fully understand the organization's operational structure and compensation practices, but on the surface, it suggests a highly cost-effective approach to leadership.