Quick charity verification for The Helton Foundation (EIN: 203694022)
Verdict: The Helton Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$2.0MRevenue
$9.9MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant negative revenue in 2023 ($-101,443) without immediate explanation.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in provided data makes precise program efficiency assessment difficult.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in executive spending.
Stable asset base of approximately $10 million over a decade, suggesting financial resilience.
Very low liabilities across most years, indicating sound financial management and minimal debt.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), demonstrating transparency and accountability.
Spending Breakdown
How The Helton Foundation 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 Helton Foundation
Is The Helton Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Helton Foundation (EIN: 203694022) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is The Helton Foundation a good charity to donate to?
The Helton Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $2.0M. Assets: $9.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Helton Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Helton Foundation is 203694022. 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 Helton Foundation spend its money?
The Helton Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Helton Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Helton Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 203694022 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 Helton Foundation demonstrates a consistent asset base, hovering around $10 million, indicating financial stability. However, recent financial performance shows volatility, with a significant negative revenue of $-101,443 in 2023, contrasting sharply with the $1,387,722 in revenue in 2022. Despite this, expenses have remained relatively stable, ranging from approximately $700,000 to $820,000 in recent years. The organization consistently reports zero officer compensation, which is a strong indicator of efficient use of funds and a commitment to directing resources towards its mission rather than executive salaries. The very low liabilities across most years also suggest sound financial management and minimal debt burden.
While the foundation's program spending efficiency cannot be precisely determined without a detailed breakdown of expenses, the absence of officer compensation is a positive sign for donor confidence. The consistent asset base over a decade, despite revenue fluctuations, suggests a well-managed endowment or investment strategy. The negative revenue in 2023 warrants further investigation to understand its cause, but the overall trend of stable expenses and assets points to a generally responsible financial operation.
Transparency is bolstered by the consistent filing of IRS 990 forms over a decade, providing a clear historical financial record. The minimal liabilities and zero officer compensation contribute to a perception of good governance and accountability. However, the lack of detailed expense categories in the provided data limits a full assessment of spending efficiency across programs, administration, and fundraising.