Quick charity verification for Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (EIN: 200192255)
Verdict: Red Lodge Area Community Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$5.8MRevenue
$4.8MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Expenses exceeded revenue in 2023 ($3,535,941 vs. $3,043,549), which could warrant further investigation into the cause.
Strengths
Consistent growth in revenue and assets over a 10-year period, from $668,910 revenue and $601,745 assets in 2014 to $3,043,549 revenue and $2,359,064 assets in 2023.
Zero reported officer compensation across all available filings, indicating strong fiscal responsibility and transparency regarding executive pay.
Positive net assets, with assets consistently exceeding liabilities (e.g., $2,359,064 assets vs. $426,572 liabilities in 2023), demonstrating financial health.
Long filing history (13 filings) indicating consistent compliance and operational longevity.
Spending Breakdown
How Red Lodge Area Community Foundation 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 Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
Is Red Lodge Area Community Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (EIN: 200192255) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Red Lodge Area Community Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Red Lodge Area Community Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $5.8M. Assets: $4.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Red Lodge Area Community Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Red Lodge Area Community Foundation is 200192255. 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 Red Lodge Area Community Foundation spend its money?
Red Lodge Area Community Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Red Lodge Area Community Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Red Lodge Area Community Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 200192255 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 Red Lodge Area Community Foundation demonstrates a generally healthy financial position, with significant growth in revenue and assets over the past decade. For instance, revenue grew from $668,910 in 2014 to $3,043,549 in 2023, and assets increased from $601,745 to $2,359,064 in the same period. While the organization experienced an expense exceeding revenue in 2023 ($3,535,941 in expenses vs. $3,043,549 in revenue), this is not uncommon for growing nonprofits and could be due to strategic investments or timing of grants. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates strong transparency regarding executive pay and a potential reliance on volunteer leadership or modest salaries not categorized as officer compensation, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. The organization's NTEE code T31 (Community Foundations) suggests a broad mission, and its financial growth indicates increasing capacity to serve its community.