American Legion
American Legion maintains stable assets and reports 0% officer compensation despite fluctuating revenues and occasional operational deficits.
EIN: 135609522 · Troy, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is American Legion Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Legion directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Legion
American Legion (EIN: 135609522) is a nonprofit organization based in Troy, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $6.6M and total assets of $13.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Legion's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates American Legion with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Legion allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The American Legion consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through mechanisms not classified as officer pay, which is highly favorable for minimizing administrative overhead.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of American Legion's IRS 990 filings:
- Occasional operational deficits (e.g., 2023 expenses $3,701,444 exceeded revenue $3,628,404)
- Lack of detailed program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdown in provided data
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Legion:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings
- Strong and growing asset base, from $8,689,911 in 2015 to $12,063,924 in 2023
- Healthy asset-to-liability ratio (e.g., 5.65:1 in 2023)
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating transparency and compliance
- Overall financial stability despite revenue fluctuations
Frequently Asked Questions about American Legion
Is American Legion a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Legion (EIN: 135609522) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does American Legion spend its money?
American Legion directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to American Legion tax-deductible?
American Legion is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 135609522). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is American Legion a good charity?
Based on the available financial data, American Legion demonstrates strong financial stability with growing assets and a commendable practice of reporting 0% officer compensation. While specific program spending ratios are not detailed, the overall financial health and transparency regarding executive pay are positive indicators.
How has American Legion's revenue trended over the past few years?
Revenue has fluctuated, with a high of $4,335,365 in 2018, dipping to $2,735,729 in 2020, and then recovering to $3,628,404 in 2023. This indicates some variability in funding but a recent upward trend.
What is the organization's asset-to-liability ratio?
In 2023, American Legion had assets of $12,063,924 and liabilities of $2,133,321, resulting in an asset-to-liability ratio of approximately 5.65:1, indicating a very strong financial position.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Legion showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Legion's revenue has grown by 19.3%, moving from $3.0M to $3.6M. Total assets increased by 180.5% over the same period, from $4.3M to $12.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 32%, from $2.8M to $3.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Legion reported a deficit of $73K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.1M in liabilities against $12.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 17.7%), resulting in net assets of $9.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.6M | $3.7M | $12.1M | $2.1M | — | — |
| 2022 | $3.3M | $3.1M | $12.2M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $3.2M | $2.5M | $13.6M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.7M | $2.4M | $12.0M | $2.8M | — | — |
| 2019 | $2.9M | $3.5M | $10.9M | $2.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $4.3M | $3.2M | $11.3M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $3.0M | $3.2M | $9.9M | $2.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $3.2M | $2.9M | $9.1M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.6M | $2.7M | $8.7M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $3.9M | $2.7M | $8.8M | $2.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $5.1M | $2.9M | $6.6M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.9M | $2.8M | $4.3M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.0M | $2.8M | $4.3M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $3.7M, and assets of $12.1M (revenue +11.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $12.2M (revenue +1.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $13.6M (revenue +17.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $12.0M (revenue -4.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $10.9M (revenue -33.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $11.3M (revenue +42.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $9.9M (revenue -4.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $9.1M (revenue -12.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $8.7M (revenue -7.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $8.8M (revenue -22.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $5.1M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $6.6M (revenue +72.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $4.3M (revenue -3.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $2.8M, and assets of $4.3M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Legion is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.