American Legion
American Legion of Meredith, NH, frequently operates at a deficit, relying on reserves to cover expenses.
EIN: 20233235 · Meredith, NH · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $88K |
| Total Expenses | $104K |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $107K |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
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 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About American Legion
American Legion (EIN: 20233235) is a nonprofit organization based in Meredith, NH. The organization reported total revenue of $88K and total assets of $108K 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 micro nonprofit that has been operating for 80 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2020). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -9.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $58K |
| Total Expenses | $104K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-45,988 |
| Total Assets | $108K |
| Total Liabilities | $1K |
| Net Assets | $107K |
| Operating Margin | -78.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 12.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2020, American Legion reported a deficit of $46K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 12.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2011–2020), American Legion's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -9.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -70.1% | -20.9% | -30.1% |
| 2019 | +69.1% | +10.6% | +46.2% |
| 2018 | -7.1% | -9.5% | -6.7% |
| 2017 | +2.5% | +9.5% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | +16.3% | +6.3% | -5.8% |
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 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Legion allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $46K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led organization. This suggests that leadership is not drawing a salary, which can be a positive for resource allocation in a small organization.
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:
- Frequent operating deficits, with expenses exceeding revenue in multiple years (e.g., 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011).
- Significant revenue volatility, ranging from $58,442 in 2020 to $195,448 in 2019, making financial planning challenging.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in summary data, hindering full assessment of spending efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Legion:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating a volunteer-driven leadership and potentially lower administrative costs.
- Maintains positive net assets, with assets ($108,281) exceeding liabilities ($1,114) in the latest filing, despite operating deficits.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (9 filings), demonstrating a commitment to public reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Legion
Is American Legion a legitimate charity?
American Legion (EIN: 20233235) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New Hampshire. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $88K. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does American Legion spend its money?
American Legion directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to American Legion tax-deductible?
American Legion is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20233235). 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 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is American Legion located?
American Legion is headquartered in Meredith, New Hampshire and files with the IRS under EIN 20233235.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Legion have?
American Legion has 9 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 $88K in total revenue.
What are the primary programs or services provided by the American Legion in Meredith, NH?
The provided financial data does not detail specific programs. To understand this, one would need to review the full IRS 990 forms or the organization's public statements.
How does the organization cover its operating deficits, such as the $45,988 deficit in 2020 (Expenses $104,430 vs. Revenue $58,442)?
Operating deficits are likely covered by drawing down on accumulated assets or through non-operating income sources not reflected in the 'Revenue' figure, such as investment gains or one-time grants.
What is the breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories?
This detailed breakdown is not available in the provided summary data. A full IRS 990 filing would typically contain this information in Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Legion showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2020), American Legion's revenue has declined by 60%, moving from $146K to $58K. Total assets decreased by 33.5% over the same period, from $163K to $108K. Total functional expenses fell by 29.2%, from $147K to $104K. In its most recent filing year (2020), American Legion reported a deficit of $46K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1K in liabilities against $108K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.0%), resulting in net assets of $107K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $58K | $104K | $108K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $195K | $132K | $155K | $4K | — | — |
| 2018 | $116K | $119K | $106K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $124K | $132K | $114K | $6K | — | — |
| 2016 | $121K | $120K | $112K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $104K | $113K | $119K | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $128K | $137K | $140K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $152K | $166K | $150K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $146K | $147K | $163K | $2K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2020: Revenue of $58K, expenses of $104K, and assets of $108K (revenue -70.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $195K, expenses of $132K, and assets of $155K (revenue +69.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $116K, expenses of $119K, and assets of $106K (revenue -7.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $124K, expenses of $132K, and assets of $114K (revenue +2.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $121K, expenses of $120K, and assets of $112K (revenue +16.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $104K, expenses of $113K, and assets of $119K (revenue -18.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $128K, expenses of $137K, and assets of $140K (revenue -16.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $152K, expenses of $166K, and assets of $150K (revenue +4.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $146K, expenses of $147K, and assets of $163K.
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.