Quick charity verification for Saco Valley Land Trust Inc (EIN: 10433636)
Verdict: Saco Valley Land Trust Inc appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$18KRevenue
$2.1MAssets
2Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
Highly variable annual revenue, making financial planning potentially challenging.
Expenses exceeded revenue in some periods (e.g., 2023: $20,515 expenses vs. $5,851 revenue), indicating reliance on prior year surpluses or asset drawdowns.
Strengths
Strong asset base ($2,186,360 in 2023) providing long-term stability.
Zero liabilities across all reported periods, indicating excellent financial health and no debt.
Consistent 0% officer compensation, suggesting high operational efficiency and volunteer-driven efforts.
Low overall expenses relative to assets, implying efficient use of resources.
How Saco Valley Land Trust Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Saco Valley Land Trust Inc
Is Saco Valley Land Trust Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Saco Valley Land Trust Inc (EIN: 10433636) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Saco Valley Land Trust Inc a good charity to donate to?
Saco Valley Land Trust Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $18K. Assets: $2.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Saco Valley Land Trust Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Saco Valley Land Trust Inc is 10433636. 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 Saco Valley Land Trust Inc spend its money?
Saco Valley Land Trust Inc allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Saco Valley Land Trust Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Saco Valley Land Trust Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 10433636 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
Saco Valley Land Trust Inc. demonstrates consistent financial stability with substantial assets relative to its annual revenue and expenses. The organization's assets have steadily grown, reaching $2,186,360 in 2023, while maintaining zero liabilities across all reported periods, indicating a very strong balance sheet. However, the organization's revenue generation is highly variable, with significant fluctuations year-over-year (e.g., $129,984 in 2011 vs. $5,851 in 2023). This variability, coupled with expenses sometimes exceeding revenue (e.g., $20,515 expenses vs. $5,851 revenue in 2023), suggests a reliance on accumulated assets or infrequent large donations rather than consistent operational income.
The organization's spending efficiency appears to be very high, with minimal expenses relative to its asset base. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings indicates that the organization is likely volunteer-run or has very low administrative overhead, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. While specific program spending details are not provided, the overall low expense levels suggest that a significant portion of any spending is directed towards its mission, given the lack of executive compensation. The consistent filing of IRS Form 990s demonstrates a commitment to transparency.