Quick charity verification for Norwood Foundation (EIN: 10705471)
Verdict: Norwood Foundation shows mixed signals
60/100Mission Score
$33.1MRevenue
$82.6MAssets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Highly volatile and inconsistent revenue streams, including negative revenue in 202102.
Significant discrepancy between revenue and expenses in multiple periods (e.g., 202312 revenue $19.4M vs. expenses $2.8M), indicating large unspent income.
Unusually high asset growth without clear corresponding program spending increases.
0% reported officer compensation for an organization with tens of millions in assets, which could indicate hidden compensation or an unsustainable operational model.
Strengths
No reported officer compensation, indicating low executive overhead.
Substantial asset base ($82,614,788) provides significant financial capacity.
Consistent filing history (11 filings) demonstrates compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
Spending Breakdown
How Norwood Foundation 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 Norwood Foundation
Is Norwood Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Norwood Foundation (EIN: 10705471) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 60/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Norwood Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Norwood Foundation has a Mission Score of 60/100. Revenue: $33.1M. Assets: $82.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Norwood Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Norwood Foundation is 10705471. 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 Norwood Foundation spend its money?
Norwood Foundation allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Norwood Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Norwood Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 10705471 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 Norwood Foundation demonstrates a highly unusual and volatile financial history, making a clear assessment challenging. While the organization reports zero officer compensation across all filings, which is a positive indicator for executive cost efficiency, its revenue and expense patterns are highly erratic. For instance, in 202312, revenue was $19,441,621 against expenses of $2,866,689, suggesting significant accumulation of assets. However, in 202102, it reported negative revenue of $-1,189,569, which is highly concerning and warrants further investigation into the nature of its income streams and accounting practices. The substantial growth in assets from $1,653 in 201602 to $82,614,788 currently, alongside fluctuating revenue, suggests a focus on endowment building or investment activities rather than consistent program spending relative to its asset base. The lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data prevents a precise analysis of spending efficiency, but the large discrepancies between revenue and expenses in several periods (e.g., 202312 and 202302) indicate that a significant portion of income is not immediately spent on programs or operations.