Quick charity verification for Stowe Charities Inc (EIN: 208538359)
Verdict: Stowe Charities Inc shows mixed signals
55/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
3Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Latest filing shows $0 revenue and assets, indicating potential inactivity or closure.
Expenses frequently exceeded revenue in prior years (e.g., $17,000 expenses vs. $15,147 revenue in 2014), suggesting reliance on reserves.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown prevents a thorough analysis of spending efficiency.
Strengths
Maintained zero liabilities across all reported periods, indicating good debt management.
No reported officer compensation, suggesting a volunteer-driven or very lean leadership structure.
Spending Breakdown
How Stowe Charities Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 Stowe Charities Inc
Is Stowe Charities Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Stowe Charities Inc (EIN: 208538359) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 55/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Stowe Charities Inc a good charity to donate to?
Stowe Charities Inc has a Mission Score of 55/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Stowe Charities Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Stowe Charities Inc is 208538359. 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 Stowe Charities Inc spend its money?
Stowe Charities Inc allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Stowe Charities Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Stowe Charities Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 208538359 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
Stowe Charities Inc. appears to be a very small organization with fluctuating financial activity over the past five years. The latest filing shows $0 in revenue and assets, which could indicate inactivity or a significant change in operations. In previous years, revenue ranged from a low of $8,276 in 2013 to a high of $51,118 in 2011. Expenses have consistently been higher than revenue in most years, such as $17,000 in expenses against $15,147 in revenue in 2014, and $20,000 in expenses against $9,903 in revenue in 2012, suggesting a reliance on prior year reserves or other funding sources not immediately apparent. The organization has maintained zero liabilities across all reported periods, which is a positive indicator of financial stability in terms of debt management.
Given the absence of officer compensation reported in any of the filings, it suggests that the organization is either entirely volunteer-run or that compensation falls below the reporting threshold, which is common for very small nonprofits. The lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data makes it difficult to assess spending efficiency beyond the top-line figures. The sudden drop to $0 revenue and assets in the latest period warrants further investigation to understand the current operational status and future viability of the charity. Without more granular data on program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a comprehensive assessment of spending efficiency is challenging.