Is South Scioto Academy Legit?

Quick charity verification for South Scioto Academy (EIN: 204234575)

Verdict: South Scioto Academy shows mixed signals

55/100Mission Score

$3.7MRevenue

$89KAssets

4Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $3 million in revenue, raising transparency concerns.
Historical periods of significantly higher liabilities than assets (e.g., 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015), indicating potential financial instability.
Exact matching of revenue and expenses in multiple filing periods, which is unusual and warrants scrutiny.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary data, hindering efficiency assessment.

Strengths

Consistent growth in revenue, from $1.18 million in 2012 to $3.74 million currently, indicating increasing support.
Publicly available IRS 990 filings, demonstrating a basic level of transparency.
The latest filing (2023) shows a positive net asset position, albeit small ($27,724 assets vs. $27,624 liabilities).

Spending Breakdown

How South Scioto Academy 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 South Scioto Academy

Is South Scioto Academy a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, South Scioto Academy (EIN: 204234575) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 55/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is South Scioto Academy a good charity to donate to?

South Scioto Academy has a Mission Score of 55/100. Revenue: $3.7M. Assets: $89K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for South Scioto Academy?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for South Scioto Academy is 204234575. 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 South Scioto Academy spend its money?

South Scioto Academy allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify South Scioto Academy's tax-exempt status?

You can verify South Scioto Academy's tax-exempt status using EIN 204234575 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

South Scioto Academy demonstrates a concerning financial trend with its liabilities frequently exceeding its assets, as seen in 2019 ($120,644 assets vs. $1,924,975 liabilities) and 2018 ($157,184 assets vs. $1,779,098 liabilities). While the latest filing shows a positive net asset position ($27,724 assets vs. $27,624 liabilities in 2023), the overall historical pattern suggests potential solvency issues. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of its size and could indicate a lack of transparency regarding how leadership is compensated, or that key personnel are compensated through other means or entities. The consistent reporting of expenses matching revenue exactly in several periods (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2019, 2017) also raises questions about the precision of financial reporting or a strategy to avoid accumulating surpluses.

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 reporting of 0% officer compensation, while potentially a positive for donor perception, could also mask other forms of compensation or indicate a reliance on volunteer leadership, which may not be sustainable for an organization with over $3 million in annual revenue. The significant fluctuations in assets and liabilities over the years, particularly the periods of high liabilities, suggest inconsistent financial management or significant capital projects that are not fully explained by the provided data.

Transparency is a mixed bag. The public availability of 990 filings is a strength, but the lack of detailed expense breakdowns and the consistent 0% officer compensation figures across multiple years for an organization of this scale warrant further investigation. Donors would benefit from more granular financial reporting to understand how funds are allocated across programs, administration, and fundraising, and how leadership is truly compensated. The historical financial instability, particularly the high liabilities, also points to areas where greater transparency and explanation would be beneficial.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.