Is Rowland Reading Foundation Inc Legit?

Quick charity verification for Rowland Reading Foundation Inc (EIN: 200514798)

Verdict: Rowland Reading Foundation Inc appears trustworthy

85/100Mission Score

$496KRevenue

$3.4MAssets

3Red Flags

4Strengths

Red Flags

Significant decline in assets over the past decade from $17.4M to $3.8M.
Reported negative revenue in 201509 ($-3,838,019) without immediate explanation in the summary data.
Large fluctuations in revenue and expenses in earlier periods (2011-2015) suggest potential instability or major operational shifts.

Strengths

Consistent absence of reported officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds for mission.
Positive trend in revenue growth in recent years (2020-2023).
Assets consistently in the millions, providing a solid financial base.
Expenses are significantly lower than revenue in recent periods, indicating good financial management.

Spending Breakdown

How Rowland Reading Foundation Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Rowland Reading Foundation Inc

Is Rowland Reading Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Rowland Reading Foundation Inc (EIN: 200514798) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Rowland Reading Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?

Rowland Reading Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $496K. Assets: $3.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Rowland Reading Foundation Inc?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Rowland Reading Foundation Inc is 200514798. 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 Rowland Reading Foundation Inc spend its money?

Rowland Reading Foundation Inc allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Rowland Reading Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Rowland Reading Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 200514798 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

Rowland Reading Foundation Inc. demonstrates a generally stable financial position, with assets consistently in the millions, reaching $3,892,065 in the 202309 period. The organization has shown a positive trend in revenue growth in recent years, with revenue increasing from $477,772 in 202009 to $897,482 in 202309. Expenses have remained relatively low compared to revenue in the most recent filings, indicating efficient operations. For example, in 202309, expenses were $389,592 against $897,482 in revenue.

The organization's spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given the consistent absence of reported officer compensation across all provided filings, suggesting resources are directed towards its mission rather than executive salaries. While specific program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns are not provided in the raw data, the overall expense-to-revenue ratio in recent years is favorable. The significant fluctuations in revenue and expenses in earlier periods (e.g., negative revenue in 201509 and very high revenue/expenses in 201309-201109) suggest a past operational model that has since stabilized to a smaller, more consistent scale.

Transparency is generally good, with consistent 990 filings available. The lack of reported officer compensation enhances trust, as it indicates a volunteer-led or very lean leadership structure. However, without detailed functional expense breakdowns (program, admin, fundraising) from the 990s, a precise assessment of spending efficiency across categories is limited. The substantial decrease in assets from a peak of $17,434,764 in 201309 to $3,892,065 in 202309 warrants further investigation to understand the underlying reasons for this significant reduction.

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Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.