Quick charity verification for Tryon Life Community Farm (EIN: 201887272)
Verdict: Tryon Life Community Farm appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$126KRevenue
$1.1MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent operating deficits in the last two reported periods (2023 and 2022)
Significant year-over-year revenue volatility, particularly the sharp drop from 2021 to 2022 and 2023
Strengths
Strong asset base, growing from $660,100 in 2011 to $1,121,912 in 2023
0% reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating volunteer or very low-cost leadership
Long operating history with 10 filings available
Spending Breakdown
How Tryon Life Community Farm 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 Tryon Life Community Farm
Is Tryon Life Community Farm a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Tryon Life Community Farm (EIN: 201887272) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Tryon Life Community Farm a good charity to donate to?
Tryon Life Community Farm has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $126K. Assets: $1.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Tryon Life Community Farm?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Tryon Life Community Farm is 201887272. 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 Tryon Life Community Farm spend its money?
Tryon Life Community Farm allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Tryon Life Community Farm's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Tryon Life Community Farm's tax-exempt status using EIN 201887272 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
Tryon Life Community Farm demonstrates a mixed financial picture. While the organization has shown significant asset growth over the past decade, from $660,100 in 2011 to $1,121,912 in 2023, its recent operational performance indicates a trend of expenses exceeding revenue. In 2023, expenses were $183,430 against revenues of $134,250, and similarly in 2022, expenses of $209,664 outstripped revenues of $181,295. This consistent deficit spending, particularly in the last two reported periods, suggests a reliance on reserves or non-recurring income, which is not sustainable long-term.
The organization's transparency is commendable regarding executive compensation, reporting 0% officer compensation across all available filings. This indicates that the leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation, which is a positive sign for donor confidence. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) in the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. The significant revenue spike in 2021 ($752,739) followed by a sharp decline warrants further investigation to understand its nature and whether it represents a one-time grant or an anomaly.
Overall, while the organization maintains a healthy asset base and exhibits transparency in executive pay, the recent trend of operating deficits requires attention. Donors might want to understand the reasons behind the consistent expense overruns and how the organization plans to achieve financial sustainability. The lack of detailed expense categorization in the provided data limits a full assessment of spending efficiency, but the absence of officer compensation is a strong positive indicator.