Quick charity verification for Wells College (EIN: 150532276)
Verdict: Wells College shows mixed signals
55/100Mission Score
$43.9MRevenue
$59.1MAssets
3Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Persistent operating deficits (5 out of 7 recent years)
Declining asset base from $79.1M in 2021 to $69.1M in 2023
Unusual reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings
Strengths
Substantial asset base of $69.1 million in 2023, providing some financial cushion
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent reporting
Spending Breakdown
How Wells College 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 Wells College
Is Wells College a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Wells College (EIN: 150532276) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 55/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Wells College a good charity to donate to?
Wells College has a Mission Score of 55/100. Revenue: $43.9M. Assets: $59.1M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Wells College?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Wells College is 150532276. 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 Wells College spend its money?
Wells College allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Wells College's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Wells College's tax-exempt status using EIN 150532276 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
Wells College demonstrates a consistent pattern of operating deficits in recent years, with expenses exceeding revenue in 5 out of the last 7 reported periods. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $32,843,838 against revenues of $29,627,481, indicating a deficit of over $3.2 million. This trend suggests potential financial strain, despite a relatively stable asset base. The organization's assets have fluctuated, decreasing from $79,137,888 in 2021 to $69,172,770 in 2023, which warrants close monitoring.
Regarding spending efficiency, without detailed functional expense breakdowns (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data, a precise assessment is challenging. However, the recurring deficits imply that the current revenue streams are insufficient to cover operational costs. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is unusual for an organization of this size and could indicate that compensation is reported under different categories or that the highest-paid individuals are not classified as officers, which might impact transparency.
Overall, while the organization has a substantial asset base, the persistent operating deficits and declining assets raise concerns about long-term financial sustainability. The lack of reported officer compensation, if accurate, could be seen as a positive for resource allocation, but if it's a reporting anomaly, it could hinder transparency. Further detailed financial statements would be necessary to fully understand the allocation of expenses and the true financial health.