Quick charity verification for Old Town Association (EIN: 204403270)
Verdict: Old Town Association appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$412KRevenue
$132KAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Inconsistent financial performance with recurring deficits (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2020 where expenses exceeded revenue).
Significant fluctuations in revenue and expenses year-over-year, making long-term financial planning appear challenging.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, demonstrating strong financial governance and transparency.
Long filing history (13 filings) indicates sustained operation and commitment to reporting.
No liabilities reported in the most recent filing (2023), suggesting good short-term financial management.
Spending Breakdown
How Old Town Association allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Old Town Association
Is Old Town Association a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Old Town Association (EIN: 204403270) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Old Town Association a good charity to donate to?
Old Town Association has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $412K. Assets: $132K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Old Town Association?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Old Town Association is 204403270. 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 Old Town Association spend its money?
Old Town Association allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Old Town Association's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Old Town Association's tax-exempt status using EIN 204403270 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
Old Town Association demonstrates a mixed financial picture. While the organization has a long filing history, indicating consistent operation, its financial health has fluctuated significantly. In 2023, expenses ($447,062) exceeded revenue ($394,022), leading to a deficit, a trend also observed in 2022 and 2020. This pattern of spending more than it brings in during certain periods suggests potential challenges in maintaining consistent financial stability. However, the organization has also had periods of strong surpluses, such as in 2021 where revenue ($495,192) significantly outpaced expenses ($347,483).
The organization's assets have also varied, from a high of $249,785 in 2016 to a low of $61,252 in 2014, currently standing at $132,040. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a strong indicator of transparency and a commitment to directing funds towards its mission rather than executive salaries. This suggests good governance in terms of executive pay practices. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) in the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is limited. The absence of liabilities in the most recent filing (2023) is a positive sign of financial management.
Overall, Old Town Association appears to be transparent regarding executive compensation, which is a significant positive. Its financial health, however, shows volatility, with periods of deficit spending. A deeper dive into the allocation of its expenses would be necessary to fully evaluate its spending efficiency and program focus, but the lack of officer compensation is a strong point for donor confidence.