Consistent operational deficits: Expenses have exceeded revenue in every reported year, leading to a cumulative loss.
Declining asset base: Total assets have decreased by over $700,000 since 2014, indicating unsustainable spending.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown: Without specific program, administrative, and fundraising percentages, it's hard to fully assess spending efficiency.
Strengths
No officer compensation: 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating resources are not being used for executive salaries.
Substantial asset base: Despite declines, the organization still holds over $1.1 million in assets, providing some buffer.
Long operating history: 13 filings indicate a long-standing presence in the community.
Spending Breakdown
How Sterling Senior Housing 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 Sterling Senior Housing
Is Sterling Senior Housing a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Sterling Senior Housing (EIN: 141866405) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 55/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Sterling Senior Housing a good charity to donate to?
Sterling Senior Housing has a Mission Score of 55/100. Revenue: $223K. Assets: $1.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Sterling Senior Housing?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Sterling Senior Housing is 141866405. 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 Sterling Senior Housing spend its money?
Sterling Senior Housing allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Sterling Senior Housing's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Sterling Senior Housing's tax-exempt status using EIN 141866405 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
Sterling Senior Housing appears to be in a challenging financial position, consistently operating at a deficit over the past decade. In 2023, the organization reported expenses of $287,494 against revenues of $207,426, resulting in a significant net loss. This trend of expenses exceeding revenue is consistent across all reported periods, leading to a steady decline in assets from $1,891,773 in 2014 to $1,179,295 in 2023. While the organization maintains a substantial asset base relative to its annual revenue, the continuous erosion of these assets due to operational deficits is a concern for long-term sustainability.
The organization's spending efficiency cannot be fully assessed without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent operational losses suggest that current revenue streams are insufficient to cover its activities. Transparency regarding executive compensation is high, as no officer compensation has been reported across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led or very lean leadership structure. The declining asset base and persistent deficits are the primary financial health indicators to monitor.
Overall, Sterling Senior Housing demonstrates transparency in its lack of officer compensation, but its financial health is precarious due to ongoing operational deficits. The organization's ability to continue its mission will depend on its capacity to either increase revenue significantly or reduce expenses to achieve financial equilibrium and halt the decline in its asset base.