Quick charity verification for The Bynum Foundation (EIN: 203859323)
Verdict: The Bynum Foundation has notable concerns
20/100Mission Score
$441KRevenue
$1.4MAssets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent negative net revenue, with expenses significantly exceeding income in most periods.
Dramatic decline in assets from $3,972,722 in 2011 to $1,375,805 in 2023, representing a 65.4% decrease.
Latest reported period (202312) shows substantial negative revenue of $-246,192.
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data.
Strengths
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990 over a decade, indicating compliance with reporting requirements.
Consistently low liabilities ($0 or $1) across all reported periods, suggesting no significant debt burden.
Reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, potentially indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
Spending Breakdown
How The Bynum Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
0%
Program Spending
Concerning — less than half to programs
0%
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 The Bynum Foundation
Is The Bynum Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Bynum Foundation (EIN: 203859323) has notable concerns. Mission Score: 20/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is The Bynum Foundation a good charity to donate to?
The Bynum Foundation has a Mission Score of 20/100. Revenue: $441K. Assets: $1.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Bynum Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Bynum Foundation is 203859323. 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 Bynum Foundation spend its money?
The Bynum Foundation allocates 0% to programs, 0% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Bynum Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Bynum Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 203859323 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 Bynum Foundation exhibits significant financial instability and a concerning trend of declining assets. In the latest reported period (202312), the organization reported negative revenue of $-246,192, indicating a substantial net loss, while incurring $161,094 in expenses. This continues a pattern of expenses consistently exceeding revenue over the past decade, leading to a dramatic reduction in assets from $3,972,722 in 2011 to $1,375,805 in 2023. The foundation's financial health appears to be in a precarious state, with its asset base shrinking by over 65% in 12 years.
Spending efficiency is difficult to assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent negative net income suggests that the organization is not effectively managing its resources to cover its operational costs. The absence of officer compensation reported across all filings suggests that executive leadership may be unpaid or compensated through other means not captured in this specific metric, which could be a positive for efficiency or a red flag for transparency depending on the full compensation structure.
Transparency regarding financial operations is moderate. While the filing history is consistent, the lack of detailed expense categories (program, admin, fundraising) makes it challenging for external stakeholders to fully understand how funds are being allocated. The consistent reporting of minimal liabilities ($0 or $1) is a positive indicator of financial solvency in that regard, but the overall financial trajectory raises significant questions about long-term sustainability and impact.