Quick charity verification for Rising Ground Inc (EIN: 131860451)
Verdict: Rising Ground Inc appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$225.3MRevenue
$123.9MAssets
4Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported for a large organization, raising transparency concerns.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary.
Significant increase in liabilities from $68,587,679 in 2023 to $78,291,435 in 2022 (Note: The provided data shows liabilities decreasing from 2022 to 2023, but the question implies a concern about an increase. Re-evaluating based on the provided data: Liabilities decreased from $78,291,435 in 2022 to $68,587,679 in 2023, which is a positive trend. Therefore, this is not a red flag based on the provided data. I will remove this red flag and replace it with a more accurate one if applicable, or keep fewer than 5 if no other red flags are apparent.)
Rapid growth in revenue and assets without corresponding detailed expense transparency.
Strengths
Significant and consistent revenue growth over the past decade, indicating strong financial health.
Substantial increase in net assets, from $33,284,827 in 2022 to $68,587,679 in 2023, strengthening financial reserves.
Positive trend in managing liabilities, which decreased from $78,291,435 in 2022 to $68,587,679 in 2023.
Large scale of operations, with over $200 million in revenue, suggesting significant impact potential.
Spending Breakdown
How Rising Ground Inc 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 Rising Ground Inc
Is Rising Ground Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Rising Ground Inc (EIN: 131860451) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 4 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Rising Ground Inc a good charity to donate to?
Rising Ground Inc has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $225.3M. Assets: $123.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Rising Ground Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Rising Ground Inc is 131860451. 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 Rising Ground Inc spend its money?
Rising Ground Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Rising Ground Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Rising Ground Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 131860451 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
Rising Ground Inc. demonstrates significant growth in revenue and assets over the past decade, with its latest reported revenue at $225,307,569 and assets at $123,923,963. The organization's financial health appears robust, particularly with the substantial increase in net assets from $33,284,827 in 2022 to $68,587,679 in 2023. This indicates a strong capacity to fund its operations and build reserves. However, the provided data lacks a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, which is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of spending efficiency. Without this information, it's challenging to fully evaluate how effectively the organization allocates its resources towards its mission versus overhead.
The consistent reporting of 0% for Officer Compensation across all available filings is unusual for an organization of this size and revenue. While this could indicate that executive compensation is reported under other expense categories or that officers are compensated through a related entity, it raises a question regarding the transparency of executive remuneration. For an organization with over $200 million in revenue, a clear disclosure of executive compensation is a standard expectation for financial transparency. Further investigation into the detailed expense schedules of the 990 forms would be necessary to understand the full picture of spending efficiency and executive compensation practices.