Is Syrian American Congress Legit?

Quick charity verification for Syrian American Congress (EIN: 141956711)

Verdict: Syrian American Congress appears trustworthy

70/100Mission Score

$1.3MRevenue

$27KAssets

3Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Consistently low asset levels relative to annual revenue (e.g., $13,062 assets vs. $1,150,727 revenue in 202312).
Liabilities exceeding assets in recent periods (e.g., $18,838 liabilities vs. $13,062 assets in 202312).
Expenses frequently exceeding revenue, leading to net deficits in several periods (e.g., 202312, 202012, 201812, 201512).

Strengths

Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating a strong commitment to minimizing executive overhead.
Significant growth in revenue and program activity over the past few years, from $286,294 in 202112 to $1,150,727 in 202312.
Consistent deployment of nearly all incoming funds, suggesting active program delivery.

Spending Breakdown

How Syrian American Congress allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Syrian American Congress

Is Syrian American Congress a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Syrian American Congress (EIN: 141956711) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Syrian American Congress a good charity to donate to?

Syrian American Congress has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $1.3M. Assets: $27K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Syrian American Congress?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Syrian American Congress is 141956711. 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 Syrian American Congress spend its money?

Syrian American Congress allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Syrian American Congress's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Syrian American Congress's tax-exempt status using EIN 141956711 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

The Syrian American Congress demonstrates a fluctuating financial picture, with significant growth in revenue and expenses over the past few years, peaking at $1,150,727 in revenue and $1,183,481 in expenses for the period ending 202312. Despite this growth, the organization consistently operates with very low asset levels relative to its revenue, reporting only $13,062 in assets against $1,150,727 in revenue in 202312. This suggests a 'pass-through' model where funds are quickly disbursed, or a lack of significant reserves. The organization's liabilities have also shown an increase, reaching $18,838 in 202312, exceeding its assets for that period.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses from the provided data. However, the consistent pattern of expenses closely matching or slightly exceeding revenue, as seen in 202312 where expenses were $1,183,481 against $1,150,727 in revenue, indicates that most incoming funds are being spent within the fiscal year. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a commitment to minimizing overhead in this area, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence.

Transparency regarding executive compensation is excellent, with 0% reported officer compensation across all available filings. However, a more detailed breakdown of functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) would enhance transparency and allow for a more precise evaluation of spending efficiency. The low asset base and occasional negative net assets (liabilities exceeding assets, e.g., 202312) warrant close monitoring to ensure long-term financial stability.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.