Is Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union Legit?
Quick charity verification for Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union (EIN: 135396735)
Verdict: Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$2.1MRevenue
$1.2MAssets
2Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which may obscure executive remuneration if it's categorized elsewhere.
Strengths
Consistent revenue generation, with latest revenue at $2,141,833.
Positive net income in recent years (2021-2023), leading to asset growth.
Significant asset growth from $374,346 in 2020 to $933,682 in 2023.
Decreasing liabilities from $278,805 in 2021 to $124,067 in 2023, indicating improved financial health.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), suggesting transparency in reporting.
Spending Breakdown
How Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
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: 135396735) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union a good charity to donate to?
Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $2.1M. Assets: $1.2M. 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 135396735. 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 70% to programs, 20% 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 135396735 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 operations with revenues generally exceeding expenses in recent years, leading to a steady increase in assets. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $2,192,938 against expenses of $1,881,017, contributing to assets of $933,682. This trend of positive net income in the last three periods (2021-2023) has helped rebuild assets after a period of higher expenses than revenue from 2017-2020. The organization's liabilities have also shown a decreasing trend, from $278,805 in 2021 to $124,067 in 2023, indicating improved financial stability.
Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data, it's challenging to precisely assess the allocation. However, the consistent operational surplus in recent years suggests effective management of overall expenses relative to income. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings indicates a potential for high efficiency in this area, or that compensation is structured differently and not reported under 'Officer Comp' on the 990, which would warrant further investigation for full transparency. The organization's assets have grown significantly from $374,346 in 2020 to $933,682 in 2023, reflecting a healthy accumulation of resources.
Transparency appears to be reasonable given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods. The lack of reported officer compensation is a notable point for transparency; while it could indicate a volunteer leadership or compensation covered under other expense categories, it requires clarification for a complete understanding of executive remuneration. Overall, the union appears to be in a stable financial position, consistently generating revenue to support its operations and building its asset base.