Quick charity verification for The Cottage Bridge Foundation (EIN: 208724288)
Verdict: The Cottage Bridge Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$1.8MRevenue
$12.1MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Expenses exceeded revenue in 2023 ($709,358 vs. $482,625) and 2022 ($739,264 vs. $270,867), indicating potential operational deficits.
The consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $12 million in assets is highly unusual and could suggest alternative compensation structures or a fully volunteer-led executive team, which might lack professional oversight.
Strengths
Strong asset growth from $2,337,908 in 2011 to $12,051,307 currently, indicating robust financial management and resource accumulation.
Extremely low liabilities ($0 or $1 across all filings) demonstrate a very strong balance sheet and minimal financial risk.
Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a high dedication to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries.
Long filing history (10 filings) provides a comprehensive view of financial trends and stability.
Spending Breakdown
How The Cottage Bridge Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
5%
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 Cottage Bridge Foundation
Is The Cottage Bridge Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Cottage Bridge Foundation (EIN: 208724288) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is The Cottage Bridge Foundation a good charity to donate to?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $1.8M. Assets: $12.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Cottage Bridge Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Cottage Bridge Foundation is 208724288. 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 Cottage Bridge Foundation spend its money?
The Cottage Bridge Foundation allocates 90% to programs, 5% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Cottage Bridge Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Cottage Bridge Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 208724288 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 Cottage Bridge Foundation demonstrates a consistent pattern of asset growth over its filing history, increasing from $2,337,908 in 2011 to $12,051,307 currently. This indicates strong financial management and accumulation of resources. However, recent years show a trend where expenses have exceeded revenue, specifically in 2023 ($709,358 expenses vs. $482,625 revenue) and 2022 ($739,264 expenses vs. $270,867 revenue). This suggests the organization is drawing down on its accumulated assets or relying on prior year surpluses to cover current operations, which warrants closer examination for long-term sustainability if this trend continues.
The organization consistently reports $0 in officer compensation across all available filings, which is a significant indicator of transparency and a commitment to directing funds towards its mission rather than executive salaries. The extremely low liabilities reported ($0 or $1 across all periods) further highlights a very strong balance sheet and minimal financial risk from debt. While specific program, administrative, and fundraising spending breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the absence of officer compensation is a positive sign regarding resource allocation.
Overall, The Cottage Bridge Foundation appears financially stable with substantial assets and minimal liabilities. The recent negative net income trends in 2022 and 2023 are a point of concern for operational efficiency, but the historical asset growth and lack of executive compensation are strong positive indicators of financial health and transparency.