Is Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council Legit?
Quick charity verification for Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council (EIN: 204915575)
Verdict: Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$641KRevenue
$199KAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant decline in assets from $417,933 in 2016 to $118,765 in 2023 without clear explanation in provided data.
Strengths
Consistent 0% reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating very low administrative overhead.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Expenses consistently align with revenues, suggesting efficient use of incoming funds for program delivery.
Steady operational activity over a decade, indicating organizational stability.
Spending Breakdown
How Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
5%
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 Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council
Is Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council (EIN: 204915575) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council a good charity to donate to?
Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $641K. Assets: $199K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council is 204915575. 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 Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council spend its money?
Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council allocates 90% to programs, 5% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council's tax-exempt status using EIN 204915575 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
Western Colorado Food Andagriculture Council demonstrates consistent operational activity with revenues and expenses generally in balance over the past decade. In the most recent filing (202312), the organization reported revenues of $467,740 against expenses of $473,577, indicating a slight operational deficit. This trend of expenses closely matching or slightly exceeding revenue is common, suggesting that the organization is spending what it receives to fulfill its mission. The organization's assets have fluctuated, peaking around $417,933 in 2016 and currently standing at $118,765 in 2023, which is a significant decrease from its highest point. This decline in assets, alongside a relatively stable liability profile, warrants closer examination to understand the underlying financial strategy or operational changes.
The organization's transparency is bolstered by its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, with 10 filings available. A key aspect of its financial health and transparency is the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings. This indicates that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is a strong positive for donor confidence regarding administrative overhead. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) within the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is limited. The overall financial picture suggests a lean operation focused on direct mission delivery, given the absence of executive compensation.