Quick charity verification for Townsend Foundation (EIN: 201030689)
Verdict: Townsend Foundation shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$110KRevenue
$25KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Highly volatile revenue and expenses across filing periods, making financial stability unpredictable (e.g., $1 revenue in 202012 vs. $120,030 in 202312).
Significant asset fluctuations without clear explanation (e.g., $99,603 in 202112 to $18,650 in 202212).
Lack of detailed expense breakdown in IRS 990 filings, hindering assessment of program efficiency.
Strengths
No reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting low administrative overhead related to executive salaries.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating a commitment to basic transparency.
Positive net income in the most recent filing period (202312), with revenue exceeding expenses.
Spending Breakdown
How Townsend Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Townsend Foundation
Is Townsend Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Townsend Foundation (EIN: 201030689) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Townsend Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Townsend Foundation has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $110K. Assets: $25K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Townsend Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Townsend Foundation is 201030689. 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 Townsend Foundation spend its money?
Townsend Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Townsend Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Townsend Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 201030689 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 Townsend Foundation exhibits inconsistent financial activity over its filing history. While the latest period (202312) shows revenue of $120,030 exceeding expenses of $72,384, indicating a surplus, previous years have been highly volatile. For instance, in 202212, expenses ($132,050) significantly outstripped revenue ($51,097), leading to a substantial deficit. The organization's assets have also fluctuated wildly, from a high of $99,603 in 202112 to a low of $201 in 202012, and currently stand at $66,296. This volatility makes it challenging to assess long-term financial stability.
Spending efficiency is difficult to ascertain without a detailed breakdown of expenses, as the filings only provide total expenses. However, the absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests that administrative overhead related to executive salaries is minimal or non-existent, which can be a positive indicator for donor funds being directed towards programs. The organization's transparency is moderate, as it consistently files its IRS Form 990s, but the lack of detailed expense categories limits a deeper understanding of how funds are allocated.
Overall, the Townsend Foundation appears to be a small organization with highly variable financial performance. Its recent positive financial period is encouraging, but the historical data suggests a need for more consistent revenue generation and expense management to ensure sustainable operations. The lack of executive compensation is a notable positive for efficiency, assuming program delivery is effective.