Quick charity verification for Skidmore College (EIN: 141338562)
Verdict: Skidmore College appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$486.3MRevenue
$1.0BAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusual 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, potentially obscuring executive pay details.
Strengths
Consistent operational surpluses, with revenues exceeding expenses in all reported periods.
Significant growth in assets, from $676 million in 2014 to over $1 billion in the latest filing, indicating strong financial management.
Healthy asset-to-liability ratio, demonstrating long-term solvency and financial stability.
Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms, indicating a commitment to regulatory compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How Skidmore College allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Skidmore College
Is Skidmore College a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Skidmore College (EIN: 141338562) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Skidmore College a good charity to donate to?
Skidmore College has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $486.3M. Assets: $1.0B. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Skidmore College?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Skidmore College is 141338562. 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 Skidmore College spend its money?
Skidmore College allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Skidmore College's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Skidmore College's tax-exempt status using EIN 141338562 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
Skidmore College demonstrates a generally stable financial position, with assets consistently exceeding liabilities, indicating long-term solvency. Over the past decade, the organization has seen significant growth in its asset base, from $676 million in 2014 to over $1 billion in its latest filing, reflecting strong financial management and potentially successful fundraising or investment strategies. Revenue has also shown a positive trend, with the latest reported revenue at $486 million, a substantial increase from previous years, though the 202305 filing shows $269 million, suggesting some variability or different reporting periods for the 'latest revenue' figure provided. The college consistently operates with a surplus, as evidenced by revenues exceeding expenses in all reported periods, contributing to its growing asset base.
Spending efficiency appears reasonable, with expenses generally staying below revenue. For instance, in 202305, expenses were $246 million against $269 million in revenue, indicating a healthy operational margin. The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all filings is unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation might be reported under different categories or that the provided 'Officer Comp' data specifically refers to a particular type of compensation not applicable here, which could impact transparency if not clarified. Further details on functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) would provide a more complete picture of spending efficiency.
Regarding transparency, the consistent availability of IRS 990 filings is a positive indicator. However, the lack of reported officer compensation in the provided data points raises a question about how executive salaries are disclosed, which is a key aspect of financial transparency for non-profits. A detailed breakdown of functional expenses would further enhance the understanding of how funds are allocated across its mission-related activities, administration, and fundraising efforts.