Quick charity verification for Pleiades Foundation (EIN: 206246872)
Verdict: Pleiades Foundation appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$439KRevenue
$2.2MAssets
4Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent operational deficits (e.g., $76,919 revenue vs. $161,156 expenses in 2023)
Reliance on spending down assets without clear self-sustaining revenue model
Unusually low liabilities ($1 across multiple years) which could indicate a lack of operational complexity or specific financial structures
No reported officer compensation for an organization with significant assets, which could mask compensation or indicate an unsustainable volunteer model for leadership.
Strengths
Substantial asset base ($2,198,340 latest assets) providing financial stability for its mission
Consistent IRS 990 filing history (10 filings) demonstrating transparency and compliance
No reported officer compensation, suggesting high efficiency in leadership costs or strong volunteer engagement.
Spending Breakdown
How Pleiades 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 Pleiades Foundation
Is Pleiades Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Pleiades Foundation (EIN: 206246872) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 4 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Pleiades Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Pleiades Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $439K. Assets: $2.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Pleiades Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Pleiades Foundation is 206246872. 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 Pleiades Foundation spend its money?
Pleiades Foundation allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Pleiades Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Pleiades Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 206246872 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 Pleiades Foundation demonstrates a consistent financial pattern of operating at a deficit in recent years, with expenses significantly exceeding revenue. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $161,156 against revenue of $76,919, and in 2022, expenses were $155,285 against revenue of $55,564. Despite these operational deficits, the organization maintains substantial assets, reported at $2,198,340 in the latest filing, and has historically shown very low liabilities, often reported as $1. This suggests that the foundation is primarily spending down its endowment or accumulated funds rather than generating sufficient annual revenue to cover its operational costs. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings indicates a high degree of volunteerism or that key personnel are compensated through other means not captured as officer compensation, which can be a positive sign for efficiency but also warrants further inquiry into how leadership is sustained. The consistent low liabilities point to strong financial management in terms of debt avoidance.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent operational deficits raise questions about the long-term sustainability of their current spending model if they continue to rely heavily on drawing down assets. The lack of officer compensation is a strong indicator of potential efficiency in leadership costs. Transparency is generally good given the consistent filing history and the clear reporting of assets and liabilities. However, a more granular breakdown of expenses would enhance transparency regarding how funds are allocated across different functions.
Overall, the Pleiades Foundation appears to be a well-managed organization in terms of asset preservation and debt management, but its financial model relies on spending down existing capital rather than generating self-sustaining revenue. This approach is common for foundations with endowments, but the consistent and significant gap between revenue and expenses suggests a deliberate strategy to disburse funds from its asset base. The absence of officer compensation is a notable positive for potential efficiency.