Is Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc Legit?
Quick charity verification for Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc (EIN: 150532293)
Verdict: Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc appears trustworthy
80/100Mission Score
$7.3MRevenue
$5.1MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant and sustained decline in revenue over the past several years (from $16.2M in 2017 to $8.8M in 2023)
Consistent 0% reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, which may indicate a lack of full transparency regarding leadership compensation or an unusual operational model.
Strengths
Strong program spending ratio (estimated 85%), indicating efficient use of funds towards its mission.
Consistent financial management, generally keeping expenses in line with revenue, as seen in the 2023 surplus ($8,883,491 revenue vs. $8,837,812 expenses).
Positive net assets, with assets of $5,013,090 exceeding liabilities of $2,831,008 in 2023, indicating financial stability.
Spending Breakdown
How Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc
Is Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc (EIN: 150532293) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc a good charity to donate to?
Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $7.3M. Assets: $5.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc is 150532293. 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 Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc spend its money?
Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 150532293 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
Potsdam Auxiliary & College Educational Services Inc (PACES) demonstrates a generally stable financial position, though with a notable trend of declining revenue over the past several years, from a peak of $16,217,617 in 2017 to $8,883,491 in 2023. Despite this, the organization has consistently managed its expenses close to its revenue, often operating with a slight surplus or deficit, indicating careful financial management. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $8,883,491 against expenses of $8,837,812, resulting in a small surplus.
The organization's spending efficiency appears reasonable, with a strong focus on program services, as indicated by the estimated 85% program spending ratio. This suggests that the majority of funds are directed towards its core mission. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a significant positive for transparency and indicates that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation, which warrants further investigation for full clarity. Overall, while the revenue decline is a point to monitor, PACES appears to be a financially sound organization with good program focus and transparency regarding executive pay.