Is Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus Legit?
Quick charity verification for Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus (EIN: 201438037)
Verdict: Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus has notable concerns
30/100Mission Score
$997KRevenue
$0Assets
4Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent reporting of $0 assets and $0 liabilities in recent filings (2021-2023) despite significant revenue, which is highly unusual for an operating school.
Historical periods show significant liabilities far exceeding assets (e.g., 201906: Assets=$824,213, Liabilities=$3,831,838), indicating potential financial instability or complex debt structures not explained by recent filings.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in the provided data makes it impossible to verify actual program, administrative, and fundraising spending ratios.
The 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly atypical for an organization of this size and suggests potential compensation through undisclosed means or related entities.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting no direct executive pay from the organization's reported funds.
Recent filings (2021-2023) show expenses closely matching revenue, indicating a break-even operation in those periods.
Spending Breakdown
How Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus 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 Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus
Is Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus (EIN: 201438037) has notable concerns. Mission Score: 30/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus a good charity to donate to?
Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus has a Mission Score of 30/100. Revenue: $997K. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus is 201438037. 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 Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus spend its money?
Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Summit Academy Transition High School Columbus's tax-exempt status using EIN 201438037 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
Summit Academy Transition High School, operating in Columbus, Ohio, exhibits a concerning financial profile based on its IRS 990 filings. While recent filings (2021-2023) show revenue closely matching expenses, suggesting a break-even operation, the organization consistently reports zero assets and zero liabilities in these periods. This lack of reported assets is highly unusual for an operating educational institution and raises significant questions about its financial structure and reporting accuracy. The organization's NTEE code B29 indicates a focus on primary and secondary education, which typically involves substantial physical or financial assets.
Historically, the organization has shown periods of significant liabilities far exceeding assets, such as in 201906 where assets were $824,213 against liabilities of $3,831,838. The sudden shift to reporting zero assets and liabilities in recent years, despite ongoing operations and revenue generation, lacks transparency and makes a clear assessment of financial health difficult. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a positive indicator regarding executive pay, but the overall financial picture is obscured by the asset and liability reporting.
Given the consistent reporting of zero assets and liabilities in recent years, it's challenging to accurately assess spending efficiency beyond the revenue-expense parity. The absence of detailed asset and liability information in recent filings significantly hinders a comprehensive financial analysis and raises concerns about the completeness and clarity of its financial disclosures. The organization's financial transparency is severely impacted by these reporting anomalies.