Quick charity verification for Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St (EIN: 16008574)
Verdict: Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$765KRevenue
$1.2MAssets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Highly volatile annual revenue, making financial planning and sustainability assessment challenging.
Expenses frequently exceed annual revenue, indicating reliance on asset drawdowns or prior year surpluses.
NTEE Code is 'Unknown', which limits understanding of its charitable purpose and activities.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown makes it difficult to assess spending efficiency.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting volunteer leadership or efficient compensation structures.
Stable asset base, consistently over $1.1 million, providing financial resilience.
Long filing history (9 filings), indicating consistent compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
Spending Breakdown
How Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St 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 Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St
Is Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St (EIN: 16008574) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St a good charity to donate to?
Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $765K. Assets: $1.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St is 16008574. 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 Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St spend its money?
Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Z A Mersereau Trust 38 Main St's tax-exempt status using EIN 16008574 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
The Z A Mersereau Trust operates with a relatively consistent asset base, hovering around $1.2 million to $1.3 million over the past decade. Its revenue generation has been highly variable, ranging from a low of $365 in 2022 to a high of $97,044 in 2021, excluding the latest reported revenue of $764,573 which is significantly higher than previous years and warrants further investigation. The trust consistently reports zero officer compensation across all available filings, which suggests either a volunteer-run structure or that compensation is handled through an external entity not reflected in these specific disclosures. Given the nature of a trust, its primary function is often asset management and distribution, which may explain the fluctuating revenue and expenses. The lack of detailed program spending information in the provided data makes a precise assessment of spending efficiency challenging, but the consistent expenses in the $58,000-$102,000 range, often exceeding revenue, indicates a reliance on its asset base for operations or distributions. The latest reported revenue of $764,573 is an outlier and could represent a significant one-time gain or distribution, which would dramatically alter the financial picture if it's a recurring trend.