Is The Shulsky Foundation Legit?

Red Flags

Inconsistent financial reporting with recent filings showing minimal activity ($1 revenue/expenses) contrasting with earlier significant activity and current reported revenue ($4,381,780).
Lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data, preventing a clear assessment of spending efficiency.
Significant drop in reported assets from $3,077 in 2015 to $1 in subsequent filings, despite current assets of $2,978,645, indicating potential reporting inconsistencies or data errors.
Unclear operational status given the minimal financial activity reported in recent 990 filings.

Spending Breakdown

How The Shulsky Foundation 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 Shulsky Foundation

Is The Shulsky Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Shulsky Foundation (EIN: 137079079) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 40/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is The Shulsky Foundation a good charity to donate to?

The Shulsky Foundation has a Mission Score of 40/100. Revenue: $4.4M. Assets: $3.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for The Shulsky Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Shulsky Foundation is 137079079. 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 Shulsky Foundation spend its money?

The Shulsky Foundation allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify The Shulsky Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify The Shulsky Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 137079079 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 Shulsky Foundation's financial health appears highly unusual based on the provided IRS 990 data. While the latest reported revenue is substantial at $4,381,780, the most recent filings (2021-2023) show extremely minimal financial activity, with revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities all reported as $1. This stark contrast with earlier filings, which showed significant revenue and expenses, raises questions about the accuracy or completeness of the recent data, or a significant change in reporting methodology or operational status. The organization's assets are reported at $2,978,645, which is a healthy figure relative to its recent reported activity, but the lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data makes it impossible to assess spending efficiency accurately. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests either a fully volunteer-run organization or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, which would impact transparency.

Verdict: The Shulsky Foundation shows mixed signals