Is World Ocean School Legit?

Quick charity verification for World Ocean School (EIN: 20610358)

Verdict: World Ocean School appears trustworthy

85/100Mission Score

$1.8MRevenue

$3.0MAssets

1Red Flags

3Strengths

Red Flags

Expenses exceeded revenue in the most recent fiscal year (2023), leading to a deficit of $81,966.

Strengths

Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating strong financial stewardship.
Significant growth in assets from $1.3M in 2014 to nearly $3M currently.
Assets consistently exceed liabilities in recent years, improving the organization's net financial position.

Spending Breakdown

How World Ocean School 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 World Ocean School

Is World Ocean School a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, World Ocean School (EIN: 20610358) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is World Ocean School a good charity to donate to?

World Ocean School has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $1.8M. Assets: $3.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for World Ocean School?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for World Ocean School is 20610358. 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 World Ocean School spend its money?

World Ocean School allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify World Ocean School's tax-exempt status?

You can verify World Ocean School's tax-exempt status using EIN 20610358 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

World Ocean School demonstrates a fluctuating but generally stable financial position over the past decade, with recent revenue of $1,817,542 and assets of $2,984,135. The organization has shown growth in both revenue and assets since 2014, though the 2023 fiscal year saw expenses ($1,765,101) slightly exceed revenue ($1,683,135), resulting in a net deficit for that period. This follows a strong surplus in 2022 where revenue ($2,521,661) significantly outpaced expenses ($1,660,114).

The organization's liabilities have consistently been substantial, often exceeding assets in earlier years, but have shown improvement, with assets now generally surpassing liabilities. For instance, in 2023, assets were $2,976,717 against liabilities of $1,901,045. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a commitment to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries, which is a positive indicator of financial stewardship and transparency. However, without a detailed breakdown of functional expenses (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is limited.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.