Quick charity verification for Transport Central (EIN: 208463821)
Verdict: Transport Central appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$224KRevenue
$187KAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, which is unusual for an organization with growing revenue and assets, potentially obscuring how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
Consistent revenue surpluses, with revenue exceeding expenses in most periods (e.g., $247,313 revenue vs. $209,939 expenses in 2024).
Strong asset growth, increasing from $7,284 in 2015 to $200,496 in 2024.
Very low liabilities, consistently under $2,000, indicating minimal debt and strong financial health.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 12 periods, demonstrating transparency in reporting.
Spending Breakdown
How Transport Central 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 Transport Central
Is Transport Central a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Transport Central (EIN: 208463821) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Transport Central a good charity to donate to?
Transport Central has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $224K. Assets: $187K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Transport Central?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Transport Central is 208463821. 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 Transport Central spend its money?
Transport Central allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Transport Central's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Transport Central's tax-exempt status using EIN 208463821 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
Transport Central demonstrates consistent financial health, with revenues generally exceeding expenses over the past decade, leading to a steady growth in assets. For instance, in the most recent filing (202406), revenue was $247,313 against expenses of $209,939, resulting in a surplus that contributed to assets reaching $200,496. The organization's liabilities remain very low, consistently under $2,000, indicating strong financial management and minimal debt burden. This trend of positive net income and asset accumulation suggests a stable and growing organization.
Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed functional expense breakdown, it's challenging to precisely determine program, administrative, and fundraising ratios. However, the consistent surplus implies that the organization is managing its expenses effectively relative to its income. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests that executive leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which can be a positive indicator for donor confidence in resource allocation.
Transparency appears to be high given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 12 periods. The lack of reported officer compensation, while potentially positive, also warrants further investigation to understand how leadership is structured and compensated, if at all, to ensure complete transparency. Overall, Transport Central appears to be a financially sound organization with a good track record of managing its resources.