Quick charity verification for Travel Goods Association (EIN: 135580600)
Verdict: Travel Goods Association shows mixed signals
55/100Mission Score
$1.5MRevenue
$7.2MAssets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent operating deficits: Expenses have exceeded revenue in multiple recent years (e.g., 2021: $878,431 expenses vs. $594,725 revenue; 2020: $1,729,088 expenses vs. $1,004,419 revenue).
Significant decline in revenue: Revenue has dropped from a high of $3,035,762 in 2013 to $594,725 in 2021.
Declining asset base: Total assets have decreased from $9,264,734 in 2017 to $7,172,279 in 2021, likely due to covering operating deficits.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown: Without a functional expense breakdown, it's difficult to assess spending efficiency across programs, administration, and fundraising.
Strengths
Healthy asset-to-liability ratio: Assets ($7,172,279 in 2021) significantly exceed liabilities ($1,126,095 in 2021), indicating solvency.
Consistent filing history: The organization has a long history of filing IRS Form 990, demonstrating compliance.
No reported officer compensation: This indicates either a volunteer-led executive team or highly efficient use of funds for leadership, enhancing transparency in this specific area.
Spending Breakdown
How Travel Goods Association allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
60%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
30%
Admin Costs
High — over 25% on administration
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 Travel Goods Association
Is Travel Goods Association a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Travel Goods Association (EIN: 135580600) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 55/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Travel Goods Association a good charity to donate to?
Travel Goods Association has a Mission Score of 55/100. Revenue: $1.5M. Assets: $7.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Travel Goods Association?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Travel Goods Association is 135580600. 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 Travel Goods Association spend its money?
Travel Goods Association allocates 60% to programs, 30% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Travel Goods Association's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Travel Goods Association's tax-exempt status using EIN 135580600 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 Travel Goods Association (TGA) exhibits a concerning trend of declining revenue and consistent operating deficits in recent years. For instance, in 2021, revenue was $594,725 against expenses of $878,431, and in 2020, revenue was $1,004,419 against expenses of $1,729,088. This pattern of spending significantly more than it earns suggests potential long-term financial instability, despite a substantial asset base of $7,172,279 in 2021. The organization's assets have also seen a decline from a high of $9,264,734 in 2017.
While the organization maintains a healthy asset-to-liability ratio, indicating solvency, the consistent negative net income is a significant red flag for financial health. The lack of reported officer compensation across all available filings suggests either a volunteer-led executive structure or that compensation is reported under different expense categories, which could impact transparency regarding leadership costs. Without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency.
The organization's transparency regarding executive compensation is high, with 0% reported officer compensation across all filings. However, the absence of NTEE code information and detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data limits a comprehensive assessment of program focus and operational efficiency. The consistent decline in revenue from a peak of $3,035,762 in 2013 to $594,725 in 2021 warrants further investigation into the sustainability of its operations and funding model.