Is Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union Legit?

The Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union demonstrates consistent financial stability with assets steadily growing over the past decade, reaching $21,846,657 in 2023. While revenue has fluctuated, generally staying in the $4-6 million range annually, the organization has managed its expenses to largely align with or slightly exceed revenue in recent years, as seen in 2023 where expenses were $4,800,372 against $4,754,635 in revenue. This indicates a tight operational budget. The organization's liabilities have remained very low across most periods, suggesting a healthy balance sheet and minimal debt burden, though there was a notable increase to $263,566 in 2021 before returning to lower levels. 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 expenses relative to revenue suggest a stable, albeit potentially lean, operational structure. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a significant point for transparency, as it could indicate that compensation is reported differently or that officers are uncompensated, which would be unusual for an organization of this size. Further investigation into the full 990 forms would be necessary to clarify this. Overall, the union appears financially sound with a strong asset base and well-managed liabilities. The primary area for improved transparency would be a clearer disclosure of how expenses are categorized and the specifics of executive compensation, if any, to provide a complete picture of its financial operations and spending priorities.