Quick charity verification for The Bronx Defenders (EIN: 133931074)
Verdict: The Bronx Defenders appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$65.7MRevenue
$37.8MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further scrutiny into executive compensation practices.
Significant increase in liabilities, particularly in the latest filing period (2023), which could indicate substantial debt or deferred revenue that needs further explanation.
Strengths
Strong and consistent revenue growth, increasing from $19.69 million in 2015 to $58.80 million in 2023, indicating expanding capacity and impact.
High program spending efficiency, with expenses closely tracking revenue, suggesting funds are actively deployed for mission-related activities.
Substantial asset growth, from $10.33 million in 2015 to $44.37 million in 2023, reflecting increased organizational capacity and investment.
Consistent operational activity, with 13 filings over the period, demonstrating long-term stability and commitment to its mission.
Spending Breakdown
How The Bronx Defenders allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 The Bronx Defenders
Is The Bronx Defenders a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Bronx Defenders (EIN: 133931074) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is The Bronx Defenders a good charity to donate to?
The Bronx Defenders has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $65.7M. Assets: $37.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Bronx Defenders?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Bronx Defenders is 133931074. 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 The Bronx Defenders spend its money?
The Bronx Defenders allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Bronx Defenders's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Bronx Defenders's tax-exempt status using EIN 133931074 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 Bronx Defenders demonstrates strong financial health and growth, with revenue increasing from $19.69 million in 2015 to $58.80 million in 2023. The organization consistently spends nearly all of its revenue on programs and operations, often exceeding revenue in a given year, indicating a commitment to utilizing funds for its mission. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $59,553,010 against revenues of $58,801,198. The significant increase in assets from $10.33 million in 2015 to $44.37 million in 2023, alongside a corresponding rise in liabilities, suggests substantial operational expansion and investment in its infrastructure.
Spending efficiency appears high, as the organization's expenses closely track its revenue, indicating that funds are put to use rather than accumulating excessively. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is a notable aspect of its transparency, suggesting that the highest-paid individuals are not compensated through traditional 'officer compensation' lines or that such compensation is minimal and not reported in that specific category on the 990. This practice, if it means no compensation for officers, would be highly unusual for an organization of this size and could warrant further investigation into how leadership is compensated.
Overall, The Bronx Defenders appears to be a financially robust and growing organization, effectively deploying its resources to meet its mission. The rapid growth in both revenue and assets over the past decade points to increasing capacity and impact. The consistent 0% officer compensation reported is a unique data point that, while seemingly positive for transparency, might require deeper understanding of their compensation structure for key leadership roles.