Recent deficit spending in the 202402 period ($1.1M more in expenses than revenue).
High liabilities relative to assets in some periods, indicating potential reliance on debt.
Strengths
Consistent ability to generate substantial annual revenue (over $30 million).
Significant asset growth over the past decade, from $5 million in 2014 to $17.6 million currently.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent reporting.
Spending Breakdown
How The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc
Is The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc (EIN: 160911473) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 60/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc a good charity to donate to?
The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc has a Mission Score of 60/100. Revenue: $35.9M. Assets: $17.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc is 160911473. 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 Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc spend its money?
The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 160911473 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 Community Action Organization Of Western New York Inc (CAO of WNY) demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses generally in the range of $30-40 million over the past decade. While the organization's assets have fluctuated, they have shown growth from $5 million in 2014 to $17.6 million currently, indicating some capacity building. However, the most recent filing (Period 202402) shows expenses exceeding revenue by over $1.1 million ($37,163,635 vs $36,035,037), which, if sustained, could impact long-term financial stability. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and may indicate that compensation is reported under other categories or that the highest-paid individuals are not classified as 'officers' in the IRS 990 Part VII, Section A sense. This lack of transparency regarding top executive pay is a significant concern for assessing financial health and accountability.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully ascertain without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation raises questions about the completeness of the compensation data provided in the summary. The organization's liabilities have also grown alongside assets, suggesting that a significant portion of assets may be offset by obligations. For example, in 202402, liabilities were $10,464,079 against assets of $13,663,760, indicating a relatively high debt-to-asset ratio.
Overall, while the CAO of WNY maintains a substantial operational scale, the lack of transparent executive compensation reporting and recent deficit spending warrant closer examination. The consistent revenue generation and asset growth are positive indicators, but the financial health could be improved by ensuring expenses do not consistently outpace revenue and by providing clearer insights into how funds are allocated across different functions and to key personnel.