Quick charity verification for Stillwater Montessori School (EIN: 10388609)
Verdict: Stillwater Montessori School shows mixed signals
45/100Mission Score
$10KRevenue
$3KAssets
3Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Severe and sustained decline in revenue and assets over recent years (e.g., revenue dropped from $257,034 in 2019 to $8,190 in 2021).
Expenses consistently exceeding revenue in recent periods (e.g., $8,473 expenses vs. $8,190 revenue in 2021), indicating operational losses.
Unclear operational status given the minimal financial activity, raising questions about program delivery.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds for non-executive purposes.
No reported liabilities in the latest filing (2021), suggesting a debt-free status despite financial challenges.
Spending Breakdown
How Stillwater Montessori School 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 Stillwater Montessori School
Is Stillwater Montessori School a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Stillwater Montessori School (EIN: 10388609) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 45/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Stillwater Montessori School a good charity to donate to?
Stillwater Montessori School has a Mission Score of 45/100. Revenue: $10K. Assets: $3K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Stillwater Montessori School?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Stillwater Montessori School is 10388609. 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 Stillwater Montessori School spend its money?
Stillwater Montessori School allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Stillwater Montessori School's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Stillwater Montessori School's tax-exempt status using EIN 10388609 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
Stillwater Montessori School has experienced a significant decline in financial activity over the past few years. After consistently reporting revenues in the range of $190,000 to $357,000 from 2012 to 2019, the organization's revenue dropped dramatically to $6,650 in 2020 and $8,190 in 2021. This sharp decrease in revenue, coupled with expenses exceeding revenue in most recent periods (e.g., $8,473 expenses vs. $8,190 revenue in 2021), indicates a challenging financial situation. The organization's assets have also decreased substantially from a high of $50,289 in 2012 to $2,812 in 2021, suggesting a significant reduction in operational scale or potential winding down of activities.
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a positive indicator of resource allocation directly to its mission rather than executive salaries. However, the drastic reduction in financial scale raises questions about its current operational capacity and long-term sustainability. While the available data doesn't provide a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, the overall trend points to an organization struggling to maintain its previous level of activity.
Given the minimal financial activity in recent years, the organization's transparency is limited by the scope of its current operations. The consistent filing of 990-EZ forms (implied by the low revenue figures) provides basic financial information, but a more detailed 990-PF or 990-T would offer deeper insights if applicable. The primary concern is the viability of the organization given its current financial trajectory.