Is Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc Legit?
Quick charity verification for Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc (EIN: 10598137)
Verdict: Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$168KRevenue
$4.9MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent annual expenses exceeding reported revenues (e.g., $238,748 expenses vs. $138,351 revenue in 2023), indicating reliance on asset drawdowns or unstated investment gains.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering a full assessment of spending efficiency.
Strengths
Strong asset base, consistently growing over time (from $3.9M in 2018 to $4.9M in 2023), providing long-term stability.
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating very low executive overhead and potentially volunteer leadership.
No reported liabilities, demonstrating a very healthy balance sheet and financial solvency.
Spending Breakdown
How Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc 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 Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc
Is Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc (EIN: 10598137) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc a good charity to donate to?
Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $168K. Assets: $4.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc is 10598137. 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 Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc spend its money?
Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 10598137 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 Thelma Gaylord Lyric Theatre Endowment Fund Inc operates as an endowment, which typically means its primary function is to manage and grow assets to provide long-term financial support to a beneficiary, in this case, the Lyric Theatre. The organization consistently reports zero liabilities and zero officer compensation across all available filings, indicating a strong balance sheet and a volunteer-led or externally managed structure for its executive functions. This suggests a high degree of financial transparency regarding its operational costs and executive remuneration.
However, the financial health shows a pattern of expenses frequently exceeding revenue. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $238,748 against revenues of $138,351, and similar deficits are observed in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2015, and 2014. While endowments often experience fluctuations in revenue due to investment performance, consistent operational deficits could indicate reliance on drawing down principal or significant unrealized gains not reflected in annual revenue figures. The substantial asset base, which has generally grown over time (from $3,944,576 in 2018 to $4,882,906 in 2023), provides a buffer, but the long-term sustainability of this spending pattern relative to its investment returns is a key consideration.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program service expenses versus administrative and fundraising costs, which are not provided in the summary data. However, given its nature as an endowment fund, a significant portion of its 'expenses' might relate to investment management fees or distributions to the beneficiary, rather than direct program delivery by the endowment itself. The absence of officer compensation is a positive indicator of lean administrative overhead at the executive level.