American Legion
American Legion maintains strong assets and zero officer compensation amidst fluctuating revenues.
EIN: 20110903 · Portsmouth, NH · NTEE: W30 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.0M |
| Total Expenses | $206K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $1 |
| Net Assets | $1.2M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
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 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Legion
American Legion (EIN: 20110903) is a nonprofit organization based in Portsmouth, NH, classified under NTEE code W30. The organization reported total revenue of $1.0M and total assets of $1.2M 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 mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 80 years, with 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2021). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -6.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $213K |
| Total Expenses | $206K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$8K |
| Total Assets | $1.2M |
| Net Assets | $1.2M |
| Operating Margin | 3.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 71.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2021, American Legion reported a surplus of $8K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 71.0 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
Over 11 years of filings (2011–2021), American Legion's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -6.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -13.4% | -1.6% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | -14.5% | -12.7% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | -26.0% | -28.3% | +4.3% |
| 2018 | +13.3% | +11.2% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | +31.4% | +32.1% | +1.1% |
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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Legion allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $8K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's officers are either uncompensated or compensated through mechanisms not classified as officer compensation on the 990, which is highly efficient for an organization with over $1 million in assets.
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:
- Significant unexplained revenue spike in the latest period, requiring further investigation into its source and sustainability.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Legion:
- Consistent financial stability with assets over $1 million.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating highly efficient leadership costs.
- Consistently low or zero liabilities in recent years, demonstrating strong financial management.
- Positive net income in most years, indicating sustainable operations.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, showing commitment to transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Legion
Is American Legion a legitimate charity?
American Legion (EIN: 20110903) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New Hampshire. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.0M. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does American Legion spend its money?
American Legion directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to American Legion tax-deductible?
American Legion is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20110903). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the American Legion CEO make?
American Legion's highest-compensated officer earns $1 annually. The organization reported $1.0M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of American Legion's spending goes to programs?
American Legion directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does American Legion compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), American Legion is above average for NTEE category W30 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is American Legion located?
American Legion is headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and files with the IRS under EIN 20110903. It is classified under NTEE code W30.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Legion have?
American Legion has 11 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 $1.0M in total revenue.
What caused the significant increase in revenue to $1,042,340 in the latest period compared to previous years?
The provided data shows a substantial jump in revenue from $213,339 in 2021 to $1,042,340 in the latest period. Further investigation into the specific sources of this revenue (e.g., grants, donations, program service revenue) would be necessary to understand this change.
How does the organization manage to operate with 0% reported officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that the organization's leadership may be entirely volunteer-based or compensated through non-officer roles, which significantly reduces administrative overhead.
What are the specific program services provided by the American Legion (EIN: 20110903) and what percentage of expenses are directly allocated to them?
While the NTEE code W30 indicates 'Veterans' Organizations', the provided financial data does not detail specific program services or the exact percentage of expenses directly allocated to them. A deeper dive into the full 990 form would be needed for this breakdown.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Legion showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2021), American Legion's revenue has declined by 50.9%, moving from $434K to $213K. Total assets increased by 12% over the same period, from $1.1M to $1.2M. Total functional expenses fell by 55.6%, from $463K to $206K. In its most recent filing year (2021), American Legion reported a surplus of $8K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $213K | $206K | $1.2M | $0 | — | — |
| 2020 | $246K | $209K | $1.2M | $0 | — | — |
| 2019 | $288K | $240K | $1.2M | $0 | — | — |
| 2018 | $389K | $334K | $1.1M | $0 | — | — |
| 2017 | $344K | $300K | $1.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $262K | $227K | $1.1M | $31K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $332K | $282K | $1.1M | $86K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $333K | $334K | $1.0M | $98K | — | — |
| 2013 | $366K | $390K | $1.0M | $107K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $424K | $438K | $1.1M | $104K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $434K | $463K | $1.1M | $107K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2021: Revenue of $213K, expenses of $206K, and assets of $1.2M (revenue -13.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $246K, expenses of $209K, and assets of $1.2M (revenue -14.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $288K, expenses of $240K, and assets of $1.2M (revenue -26.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $389K, expenses of $334K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +13.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $344K, expenses of $300K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +31.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $262K, expenses of $227K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue -21.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $332K, expenses of $282K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue -0.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $333K, expenses of $334K, and assets of $1.0M (revenue -8.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $366K, expenses of $390K, and assets of $1.0M (revenue -13.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $424K, expenses of $438K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue -2.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $434K, expenses of $463K, and assets of $1.1M.
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.