Is Western New York Public Broadcasting Association Legit?
Quick charity verification for Western New York Public Broadcasting Association (EIN: 160834459)
Verdict: Western New York Public Broadcasting Association appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$18.2MRevenue
$26.0MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Unusually low or 0% reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, which may obscure actual executive remuneration practices.
Strengths
Consistent revenue generation exceeding expenses, leading to healthy operating surpluses (e.g., $802,822 in 2023).
Steady growth in assets over the past decade, from $19,447,140 in 2014 to $24,173,443 in 2023, indicating financial stability.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), demonstrating consistent transparency in reporting.
Strong asset base relative to liabilities, with assets of $24,173,443 and liabilities of $5,770,449 in 2023, indicating a solid financial position.
Spending Breakdown
How Western New York Public Broadcasting Association allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
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 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association
Is Western New York Public Broadcasting Association a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Western New York Public Broadcasting Association (EIN: 160834459) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Western New York Public Broadcasting Association a good charity to donate to?
Western New York Public Broadcasting Association has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $18.2M. Assets: $26.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Western New York Public Broadcasting Association?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Western New York Public Broadcasting Association is 160834459. 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 New York Public Broadcasting Association spend its money?
Western New York Public Broadcasting Association allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Western New York Public Broadcasting Association's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Western New York Public Broadcasting Association's tax-exempt status using EIN 160834459 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 New York Public Broadcasting Association demonstrates consistent financial health, with revenues generally exceeding expenses over the past decade, leading to a steady growth in assets from $19,447,140 in 2014 to $24,173,443 in 2023. The organization's latest filing shows revenue of $15,242,336 against expenses of $14,339,514, indicating a healthy operating surplus. This consistent surplus allows for reinvestment in its mission and strengthens its balance sheet.
The organization's spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given the reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, which suggests that executive salaries are not a significant drain on resources or are not reported in a way that is easily identifiable as 'officer compensation' in the summary data provided. This lack of reported officer compensation is a notable positive for spending efficiency. However, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is limited.
In terms of transparency, the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods is a positive indicator. The absence of reported officer compensation in the provided data, while potentially positive for efficiency, could also raise questions about how executive remuneration is categorized or if it is truly non-existent. Further detailed examination of the full 990 forms would be necessary to fully understand the allocation of all expenses and executive compensation practices.