Quick charity verification for Spidell Foundation (EIN: 204895021)
Verdict: Spidell Foundation appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$233KRevenue
$985KAssets
0Red Flags
5Strengths
No red flags identified.
Strengths
Consistent asset growth from $176,409 in 2011 to $985,407 currently.
Extremely low expense ratio relative to revenue in most years (e.g., 2023 expenses $13,835 vs. revenue $24,341).
Zero reported officer compensation across all available filings, indicating high dedication or volunteer leadership.
No significant liabilities reported, demonstrating strong financial health and management.
Clear and consistent IRS 990 filing history over 10 periods, indicating high transparency.
Spending Breakdown
How Spidell Foundation 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 Spidell Foundation
Is Spidell Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Spidell Foundation (EIN: 204895021) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Spidell Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Spidell Foundation has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $233K. Assets: $985K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Spidell Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Spidell Foundation is 204895021. 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 Spidell Foundation spend its money?
Spidell Foundation allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Spidell Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Spidell Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 204895021 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 Spidell Foundation demonstrates consistent financial stability with growing assets over the past decade, from $176,409 in 2011 to $985,407 currently. The organization's revenue has fluctuated, with a notable peak of $160,554 in 2015 and a current revenue of $233,464, indicating a strong recent financial period. Expenses have remained relatively low compared to revenue, suggesting efficient operations or a focus on asset accumulation.
Spending efficiency appears strong, as evidenced by the low expense ratios in most years. For example, in 2023, expenses were $13,835 against $24,341 in revenue, and in 2022, $22,635 against $56,153. This indicates that a significant portion of incoming funds is either retained or directly applied to program services, rather than being consumed by overhead. The consistent reporting of zero officer compensation further enhances the perception of efficiency and dedication to the mission.
Transparency is high, with a clear history of 10 IRS 990 filings and consistent reporting of key financial metrics. The absence of liabilities across all reported periods (except for a nominal $1 in recent years) is a positive indicator of sound financial management. The organization's NTEE code T200 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) suggests its primary activity is grantmaking, which typically involves distributing funds to other nonprofits, making the low expenses understandable as direct program costs would be grants.