Is Parks Education Foundation Legit? —…

Spending Breakdown

How Parks Education 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 Parks Education Foundation

Is Parks Education Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Parks Education Foundation (EIN: 200423537) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 45/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Parks Education Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Parks Education Foundation has a Mission Score of 45/100. Revenue: $62K. Assets: $2.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Parks Education Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Parks Education Foundation is 200423537. 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 Parks Education Foundation spend its money?

Parks Education Foundation allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Parks Education Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Parks Education Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 200423537 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 Parks Education Foundation exhibits concerning financial trends, with expenses consistently far exceeding revenue in recent years. For example, in the 202308 period, the organization reported revenue of $49,782 against expenses of $231,905, indicating a significant operating deficit. This pattern of spending down assets is evident across multiple years, with total assets declining from $3,709,406 in 201508 to $2,074,791 in 202308. While the organization maintains a very low liability profile ($1 in recent years), this is overshadowed by the substantial and sustained draw on its endowment or accumulated funds.

The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent and large gap between revenue and expenses suggests that the current operational model is not sustainable without continued asset depletion. The absence of officer compensation across all reported periods indicates that leadership is likely volunteer-based, which can be a positive for efficiency, but doesn't mitigate the overall financial imbalance.

Transparency appears adequate in terms of filing history, with 9 filings available. However, the lack of detailed expense allocation (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided data limits a comprehensive assessment of how efficiently funds are being utilized towards their stated mission. The significant decline in assets over time, coupled with low revenue generation, raises questions about the long-term viability and impact of the foundation.

Is Parks Education Foundation Legit?

Verdict: Parks Education Foundation shows mixed signals

Red Flags

Strengths