Is The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County Legit?
Quick charity verification for The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County (EIN: 132503820)
Verdict: The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County appears trustworthy
90/100Mission Score
$20.8MRevenue
$25.9MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, which may obscure actual leadership costs or indicate a complex compensation structure.
Significant increase in liabilities alongside assets, requiring further investigation into their nature.
Strengths
Consistent and strong revenue growth over the past decade, indicating robust financial support.
Substantial asset accumulation, particularly in recent years, enhancing long-term stability.
Efficient spending, with expenses consistently below revenue, leading to positive net assets.
No reported officer compensation, suggesting high efficiency in leadership costs or a volunteer-driven executive structure.
Spending Breakdown
How The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County 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 Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County
Is The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County (EIN: 132503820) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County a good charity to donate to?
The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County has a Mission Score of 90/100. Revenue: $20.8M. Assets: $25.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County is 132503820. 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 Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County spend its money?
The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County's tax-exempt status using EIN 132503820 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 Legal Aid Society Of Westchester County demonstrates a consistent pattern of growth in both revenue and assets over the past decade, indicating strong financial health. For instance, revenue grew from $8,957,160 in 2014 to $18,856,695 in 2023, nearly doubling. The organization consistently spends a significant portion of its budget on program services, as evidenced by its efficient spending ratios. While specific breakdowns for administrative and fundraising costs are not provided in the summary data, the overall expense-to-revenue ratio suggests a focus on mission delivery. The organization's transparency is commendable given the public availability of its IRS 990 filings, which show no reported officer compensation, suggesting a volunteer or externally compensated leadership structure, or that compensation is reported differently within the detailed filing. The substantial increase in assets, particularly from $4,288,823 in 2021 to $21,678,901 in 2023, warrants further investigation to understand the nature of these assets and their contribution to the organization's long-term stability and mission.