Quick charity verification for The White Cedar Fund (EIN: 205717546)
Verdict: The White Cedar Fund appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$698KRevenue
$6.1MAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant year-over-year revenue and expense volatility, as seen with $4.3M revenue in 2021 versus $616K in 2023.
Expenses exceeding revenue in the most recent filing (2023: $837,781 expenses vs. $616,963 revenue), indicating a deficit.
Lack of detailed spending breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary data makes full efficiency assessment difficult.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating excellent financial stewardship at the leadership level.
Extremely low liabilities ($1 or $0 reported consistently), suggesting a very healthy balance sheet and minimal debt burden.
Significant asset growth over the long term, from $2.2 million in 2011 to over $6.1 million currently, demonstrating successful asset accumulation.
Spending Breakdown
How The White Cedar Fund allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 White Cedar Fund
Is The White Cedar Fund a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The White Cedar Fund (EIN: 205717546) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is The White Cedar Fund a good charity to donate to?
The White Cedar Fund has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $698K. Assets: $6.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The White Cedar Fund?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The White Cedar Fund is 205717546. 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 White Cedar Fund spend its money?
The White Cedar Fund allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The White Cedar Fund's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The White Cedar Fund's tax-exempt status using EIN 205717546 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 White Cedar Fund demonstrates a mixed financial picture. While the organization has reported zero officer compensation across all available filings, indicating good transparency regarding executive pay, its financial stability shows significant fluctuations. For instance, in 2023, expenses ($837,781) exceeded revenue ($616,963), leading to a deficit. This contrasts sharply with 2022 and 2021, where revenue significantly outpaced expenses, suggesting reliance on large, potentially infrequent, contributions. The organization's assets have also seen considerable growth, from $2.2 million in 2011 to over $6.1 million currently, indicating successful asset accumulation, though the recent dip from $6.6 million in 2022 to $6.4 million in 2023 warrants attention. The consistent reporting of minimal liabilities ($1 or $0) across all periods is a positive indicator of financial health and low debt burden.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the substantial swings in revenue and expenses year-over-year suggest that the organization may be undertaking projects or initiatives that are not consistently funded by annual revenue, potentially drawing from accumulated assets. The lack of officer compensation is a strong point for transparency and efficient use of funds at the leadership level.
Overall, The White Cedar Fund appears to be transparent regarding executive compensation and maintains a low debt profile. However, its operational sustainability could be improved by more consistent revenue generation relative to its spending, as evidenced by the 2023 deficit. Further analysis of its program spending ratio would be crucial to fully evaluate its efficiency in delivering on its mission.