Is Ryan Charitable Trust Legit?

Red Flags

Significant and consistent decline in assets over the past decade, from over $5 million to under $85,000.
Expenses frequently exceed revenue, indicating reliance on asset depletion rather than sustainable income.
Dramatic drop in revenue from over $2 million in 2011 to just over $4,000 currently, suggesting a loss of funding sources.
High expense-to-revenue ratio in several years (e.g., 2019: $448,299 expenses vs. $9,691 revenue).

Spending Breakdown

How Ryan Charitable Trust allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

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 Ryan Charitable Trust

Is Ryan Charitable Trust a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ryan Charitable Trust (EIN: 207196210) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 45/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is Ryan Charitable Trust a good charity to donate to?

Ryan Charitable Trust has a Mission Score of 45/100. Revenue: $4K. Assets: $85K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Ryan Charitable Trust?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Ryan Charitable Trust is 207196210. 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 Ryan Charitable Trust spend its money?

Ryan Charitable Trust allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Ryan Charitable Trust's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Ryan Charitable Trust's tax-exempt status using EIN 207196210 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 Ryan Charitable Trust appears to be a small private foundation, as indicated by its NTEE code T20 and its historical financial data. Its financial health has seen significant fluctuations over the past decade. While the trust reported assets of $84,736 in its latest filing, this is a substantial decrease from its peak assets of over $5 million in 2011. Revenue has also declined dramatically from $2,267,080 in 2011 to $4,145 in its latest period, with several years showing expenses far exceeding revenue, such as in 2019 when expenses were $448,299 against $9,691 in revenue. This consistent deficit spending suggests a reliance on drawing down its asset base, which has largely been depleted.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent pattern of expenses significantly outpacing revenue in most recent years, such as $3,055 in expenses against $2,819 in revenue in 2023, indicates that the organization is not self-sustaining through its current revenue streams. The absence of officer compensation across all reported periods suggests a volunteer-led or minimally staffed operation, which can be a positive for efficiency if program delivery is maintained. Transparency is generally good given the availability of 990 filings, but the lack of detailed expense categories limits a deeper analysis of how funds are allocated.

Overall, the Ryan Charitable Trust exhibits characteristics of a foundation that has significantly scaled down its operations or is in a period of winding down, given the sharp decline in both assets and revenue. Its financial health appears precarious, with a consistent pattern of spending more than it earns. While the lack of officer compensation is a positive, the long-term sustainability is questionable without a significant increase in revenue or a reduction in expenses to align with current income levels.

Verdict: Ryan Charitable Trust shows mixed signals