Quick charity verification for Shriners International (EIN: 160332460)
Verdict: Shriners International has notable concerns
10/100Mission Score
$1.9MRevenue
$3.2MAssets
4Red Flags
1Strengths
Red Flags
Significant discrepancy between reported summary financials (Latest Revenue, Assets) and detailed IRS 990 filing history (zero activity in recent years).
Consistent reporting of $0 expenses across all available IRS 990 filings, even in years with reported revenue, making financial analysis impossible.
Lack of transparency regarding operational costs and program spending due to zero expense reporting.
Unusual financial pattern with $0 assets and liabilities reported in multiple years, despite some revenue.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting volunteer leadership or compensation handled by a separate entity.
Spending Breakdown
How Shriners International allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
0%
Program Spending
Concerning — less than half to programs
0%
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 Shriners International
Is Shriners International a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Shriners International (EIN: 160332460) has notable concerns. Mission Score: 10/100. 4 red flags identified, 1 strength noted.
Is Shriners International a good charity to donate to?
Shriners International has a Mission Score of 10/100. Revenue: $1.9M. Assets: $3.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Shriners International?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Shriners International is 160332460. 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 Shriners International spend its money?
Shriners International allocates 0% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Shriners International's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Shriners International's tax-exempt status using EIN 160332460 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
Shriners International's financial data presents a highly unusual and concerning pattern. Despite reporting 'Latest Revenue' of $1,916,576 and 'Assets' of $3,204,601, the detailed IRS 990 filing history shows zero revenue, expenses, assets, or liabilities for the most recent periods (2020-2022). This discrepancy makes a meaningful assessment of financial health, spending efficiency, and transparency impossible based solely on the provided filing history. The organization's financial reporting appears inconsistent or incomplete, raising significant questions about its operational status and the accuracy of publicly available summary data versus detailed filings.
The filings from 2013-2016 show some revenue, ranging from $335,852 to $450,344, but consistently report $0 in expenses, assets (except for $1 in some years), and liabilities. This suggests either an extremely unusual financial structure where all revenue is retained without any operational costs, or more likely, that these filings are highly simplified or represent a specific type of entity within a larger structure that doesn't fully capture its financial activity. Without a clear understanding of the actual expenses and program service accomplishments, it's impossible to evaluate spending efficiency or program focus. The lack of detailed financial activity in recent filings severely hinders transparency.