Quick charity verification for Sooch Foundation (EIN: 200399480)
Verdict: Sooch Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$7.4MRevenue
$15.8MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant revenue volatility, including negative revenue in 2022 (-$567,949), which could indicate reliance on investment performance or other non-operating factors.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary makes precise efficiency analysis challenging.
Strengths
Consistent 0% reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating strong financial stewardship and low overhead.
Stable and substantial asset base, consistently around $13-16 million, providing financial resilience.
Very low liabilities ($0-$1 across all filings), indicating sound financial health and minimal debt.
How Sooch Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Sooch Foundation
Is Sooch Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Sooch Foundation (EIN: 200399480) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Sooch Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Sooch Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $7.4M. Assets: $15.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Sooch Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Sooch Foundation is 200399480. 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 Sooch Foundation spend its money?
Sooch Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Sooch Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Sooch Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 200399480 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 Sooch Foundation demonstrates a consistent commitment to its mission, as evidenced by its stable asset base, which has hovered around $13-16 million over the past decade. While the foundation's revenue has fluctuated significantly, including a negative revenue year in 2022 (-$567,949), its expenses have remained relatively consistent, typically ranging from $770,000 to $1,040,000 annually. This suggests a reliance on its endowment or prior year's gains to fund operations, rather than solely on annual contributions.
The organization's spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given that officer compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings. This indicates that the foundation's leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. The consistent low liabilities ($0-$1) also points to sound financial management and a lack of significant debt.
However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories from the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The significant revenue volatility, particularly the negative revenue in 2022, warrants further investigation to understand its source (e.g., investment losses) and its impact on the foundation's long-term financial strategy. Despite this, the foundation's substantial assets provide a strong buffer.