Quick charity verification for Practising Law Institute (EIN: 135562321)
Verdict: Practising Law Institute appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$137.6MRevenue
$208.0MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation, requiring further investigation into full 990 for clarity on executive pay structure.
Strengths
Consistent revenue growth, from $79.4M in 2014 to $114.8M in 2023.
Strong asset growth, from $106.2M in 2015 to $202.3M in 2023, indicating robust financial health.
Consistent generation of operating surpluses in most recent years (e.g., $10.4M in 2023), demonstrating sound financial management.
Low liabilities relative to assets, with liabilities at $102.9M against assets of $202.3M in 2023, indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Spending Breakdown
How Practising Law Institute allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 Practising Law Institute
Is Practising Law Institute a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Practising Law Institute (EIN: 135562321) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Practising Law Institute a good charity to donate to?
Practising Law Institute has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $137.6M. Assets: $208.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Practising Law Institute?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Practising Law Institute is 135562321. 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 Practising Law Institute spend its money?
Practising Law Institute allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Practising Law Institute's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Practising Law Institute's tax-exempt status using EIN 135562321 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
Practising Law Institute (PLI) demonstrates a strong and consistent financial position, with assets steadily growing from $106 million in 2015 to over $202 million in 2023. The organization consistently generates a surplus, with revenues exceeding expenses in most recent years, such as a $10.4 million surplus in 2023 ($114.8M revenue vs. $104.4M expenses). This indicates sound financial management and the ability to reinvest in its mission. While specific program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the consistent surpluses suggest efficient operations relative to its revenue generation.
PLI's transparency appears high regarding executive compensation, as reported officer compensation is consistently 0% across all available filings. This suggests that the organization's leadership may be compensated through other means not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that it relies heavily on volunteer leadership, which would be a significant strength. Further investigation into the full 990 would clarify this. The consistent growth in assets and revenue over the past decade points to a well-managed and financially healthy organization.