Quick charity verification for St John Fisher University (EIN: 160746864)
Verdict: St John Fisher University appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$163.9MRevenue
$351.2MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unclear executive compensation reporting (0% officer comp for a large institution)
Strengths
Consistent positive operating margins (e.g., $157M revenue vs. $156M expenses in 202305)
Steady growth in assets over the past decade (from $254M in 201405 to $331M in 202305)
Stable and manageable liabilities relative to assets
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent compliance
Spending Breakdown
How St John Fisher University 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 St John Fisher University
Is St John Fisher University a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, St John Fisher University (EIN: 160746864) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is St John Fisher University a good charity to donate to?
St John Fisher University has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $163.9M. Assets: $351.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for St John Fisher University?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for St John Fisher University is 160746864. 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 St John Fisher University spend its money?
St John Fisher University allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify St John Fisher University's tax-exempt status?
You can verify St John Fisher University's tax-exempt status using EIN 160746864 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
St. John Fisher University demonstrates consistent financial health, with revenues generally exceeding expenses across the past decade. For instance, in the 202305 period, the university reported revenues of $157,095,376 against expenses of $156,111,257, indicating a positive operating margin. The organization's assets have also shown steady growth, increasing from $254,376,895 in 201405 to $331,463,091 in 202305, suggesting sound financial management and investment. Liabilities have remained relatively stable or slightly decreased as a proportion of assets over time, further indicating fiscal prudence.
Regarding spending efficiency, as an educational institution (NTEE B430), the vast majority of its expenses are inherently program-related, covering faculty salaries, academic resources, and student services. The consistent positive operating margins across multiple years suggest efficient management of its substantial revenue streams. The absence of reported officer compensation in the provided data points to a potential area for further transparency, as it's unusual for an organization of this size not to have compensated officers, or it may indicate that compensation is reported differently or falls under broader salary categories not explicitly detailed in this summary.
Overall, St. John Fisher University appears to be a financially stable and well-managed institution. Its consistent growth in assets and positive revenue-to-expense ratios over a long period are strong indicators of financial health. The lack of specific officer compensation figures in the provided data is the primary area where more detailed transparency could be beneficial for a complete financial assessment.