American Legion
American Legion Madison, ME, shows consistent financial growth and zero officer compensation over a decade.
EIN: 16016268 · Madison, ME · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $223K |
| Total Expenses | $73K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $244K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is American Legion Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Legion directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Legion
American Legion (EIN: 16016268) is a nonprofit organization based in Madison, ME. The organization reported total revenue of $223K and total assets of $286K 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.
Organization Overview
American Legion is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 80 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -1.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $83K |
| Total Expenses | $73K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$10K |
| Total Assets | $245K |
| Total Liabilities | $709 |
| Net Assets | $244K |
| Operating Margin | 12.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 40.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, American Legion reported a surplus of $10K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 40.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), American Legion's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -23.2% | +16.2% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | -4.5% | -24.8% | +24.4% |
| 2021 | +61.2% | +25.9% | +18.7% |
| 2020 | -29.9% | -31.8% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | +43.2% | +7.9% | +1.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1946 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
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: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Legion allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $10K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is unpaid, which is highly favorable for directing funds towards its mission.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Legion:
- Consistent asset growth, from $154,683 in 2014 to $245,121 in 2023.
- Zero officer compensation reported across all available filings, indicating high efficiency in directing funds.
- Very low liabilities, often near zero, demonstrating strong fiscal health and minimal debt.
- Consistent revenue exceeding expenses in most recent years (e.g., $83,443 revenue vs. $73,380 expenses in 2023).
- Regular IRS 990 filings over 13 periods, indicating good compliance and basic transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Legion
Is American Legion a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Legion (EIN: 16016268) appears legitimate. Mission Score: 85/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does American Legion spend its money?
American Legion directs 90% 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: 16016268). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of American Legion's spending goes to programs?
American Legion directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is American Legion located?
American Legion is headquartered in Madison, Maine and files with the IRS under EIN 16016268.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Legion have?
American Legion has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $223K in total revenue.
Is the American Legion (Madison, ME) financially stable?
Yes, the organization appears financially stable, consistently maintaining low liabilities and growing assets from $154,683 in 2014 to $245,121 in 2023, while generally operating with a surplus.
How does the American Legion (Madison, ME) manage executive compensation?
The American Legion (Madison, ME) reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its leadership serves without pay.
What is the trend in assets for this organization?
The organization's assets have shown a positive growth trend, increasing from $154,683 in 2014 to $245,121 in 2023, demonstrating financial accumulation.
Are there any significant liabilities for the American Legion (Madison, ME)?
No, the organization consistently reports very low liabilities, often near zero, such as $709 in 2023 and $498 in 2022, indicating minimal debt.
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 declined by 20.4%, moving from $105K to $83K. Total assets increased by 47.9% over the same period, from $166K to $245K. Total functional expenses fell by 6.6%, from $79K to $73K. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Legion reported a surplus of $10K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $709 in liabilities against $245K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.3%), resulting in net assets of $244K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $83K | $73K | $245K | $709 | — | — |
| 2022 | $109K | $63K | $235K | $498 | — | — |
| 2021 | $114K | $84K | $189K | $0 | — | — |
| 2020 | $71K | $67K | $159K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $101K | $98K | $155K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $70K | $91K | $152K | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $96K | $91K | $173K | $17K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $96K | $91K | $168K | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $133K | $113K | $162K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $117K | $95K | $155K | $14K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $109K | $108K | $154K | $21K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $111K | $114K | $163K | $31K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $105K | $79K | $166K | $41K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $83K, expenses of $73K, and assets of $245K (revenue -23.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $109K, expenses of $63K, and assets of $235K (revenue -4.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $114K, expenses of $84K, and assets of $189K (revenue +61.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $71K, expenses of $67K, and assets of $159K (revenue -29.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $101K, expenses of $98K, and assets of $155K (revenue +43.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $70K, expenses of $91K, and assets of $152K (revenue -27.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $96K, expenses of $91K, and assets of $173K (revenue -0.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $96K, expenses of $91K, and assets of $168K (revenue -27.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $133K, expenses of $113K, and assets of $162K (revenue +14.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $117K, expenses of $95K, and assets of $155K (revenue +7.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $109K, expenses of $108K, and assets of $154K (revenue -2.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $111K, expenses of $114K, and assets of $163K (revenue +6.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $105K, expenses of $79K, and assets of $166K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Legion:
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.