Quick charity verification for Rochester Museum And Science Center (EIN: 160794131)
Verdict: Rochester Museum And Science Center appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$12.9MRevenue
$26.1MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Periods of deficit spending, such as in 2022 ($7.11M revenue vs. $8.54M expenses) and 2019 ($6.32M revenue vs. $8.24M expenses), indicate potential for financial instability.
The consistent 0% officer compensation reported is highly unusual and may indicate a reporting anomaly or that compensation is categorized differently, warranting deeper investigation into detailed 990 forms.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, suggesting efficient use of funds for executive salaries.
Substantial and stable asset base, consistently above $26 million, providing a strong financial cushion.
Generally positive net income in most years, such as 2023 ($9.86M revenue vs. $9.59M expenses) and 2021 ($9.94M revenue vs. $7.77M expenses), indicating sound financial management.
Healthy asset-to-liability ratio, for example, 5.53:1 in 2023, demonstrating strong solvency.
Spending Breakdown
How Rochester Museum And Science Center 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 Rochester Museum And Science Center
Is Rochester Museum And Science Center a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Rochester Museum And Science Center (EIN: 160794131) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Rochester Museum And Science Center a good charity to donate to?
Rochester Museum And Science Center has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $12.9M. Assets: $26.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Rochester Museum And Science Center?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Rochester Museum And Science Center is 160794131. 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 Rochester Museum And Science Center spend its money?
Rochester Museum And Science Center allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Rochester Museum And Science Center's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Rochester Museum And Science Center's tax-exempt status using EIN 160794131 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 Rochester Museum And Science Center demonstrates generally stable financial health, with revenues often exceeding expenses, as seen in 2023 ($9.86M revenue vs. $9.59M expenses) and 2021 ($9.94M revenue vs. $7.77M expenses). However, there have been periods of deficit spending, such as in 2022 ($7.11M revenue vs. $8.54M expenses) and 2019 ($6.32M revenue vs. $8.24M expenses), indicating some variability in financial performance. The organization maintains substantial assets, consistently above $26 million, providing a solid financial foundation.
The spending efficiency appears reasonable, though specific breakdowns for program, administrative, and fundraising expenses are not provided in the summary data. The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all available filings is a significant positive indicator for transparency and efficient use of funds, suggesting that executive salaries are either very low or not reported in this specific field, which warrants further investigation into detailed 990 forms. The organization's asset base has fluctuated, peaking around $34 million in 2014 and 2017, and settling around $29 million in recent years, which is a healthy level relative to its annual operating budget.