Is Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union Legit?
Quick charity verification for Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union (EIN: 131215130)
Verdict: Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$11.4MRevenue
$22.3MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale.
Operating with a slight deficit in the last two reported periods (2022 and 2023).
Strengths
Strong and consistently growing asset base, reaching $22,250,343.
Consistently low liabilities, indicating strong financial health and minimal debt burden.
Stable financial operations over a long period, with 13 filings available.
Ability to manage expenses closely to revenue, even during periods of fluctuation.
Spending Breakdown
How Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union
Is Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union (EIN: 131215130) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union a good charity to donate to?
Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $11.4M. Assets: $22.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union is 131215130. 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 Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union spend its money?
Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union's tax-exempt status using EIN 131215130 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 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.