Believe In Me
Believe In Me faces significant financial challenges with consistent deficits and declining assets.
EIN: 204830357 · Seattle, WA · NTEE: T30 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.5M |
| Total Expenses | $1.2M |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $7.0M |
| Transparency Score | 55/100 |
Is Believe In Me Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Believe In Me directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Believe In Me
Believe In Me (EIN: 204830357) is a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, WA, classified under NTEE code T30. The organization reported total revenue of $1.5M and total assets of $6.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Believe In Me's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Believe In Me is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 18 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -11.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $173K |
| Total Expenses | $1.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,031,028 |
| Total Assets | $7.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $265K |
| Net Assets | $7.0M |
| Operating Margin | -595.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 72.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Believe In Me reported a deficit of $1.0M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 72.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.6% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Believe In Me's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -11.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -53.2% | -0.5% | -7.2% |
| 2022 | -45.2% | -66.2% | -35.0% |
| 2021 | -1.3% | +169.9% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | +33.0% | +45.8% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | +30.6% | +48.3% | +9.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2008 |
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 Believe In Me with a Mission Score of 55 out of 100 (Fair). 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, Believe In Me allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $1.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Believe In Me consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating a strong commitment to minimizing executive overhead and 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.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Believe In Me's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent and significant net losses (e.g., $173,232 revenue vs. $1,204,260 expenses in 2023).
- Steep decline in total assets from over $12 million in 2019 to $7,275,534 in 2023.
- Dramatic decrease in revenue over the past several years, from $1,536,899 in 2017 to $173,232 in 2023.
- Expenses consistently far exceeding revenue, indicating an unsustainable financial model.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Believe In Me:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong financial transparency and commitment to mission over executive pay.
- Historically held significant assets, suggesting a strong foundation, though currently declining.
Frequently Asked Questions about Believe In Me
Is Believe In Me a legitimate charity?
Believe In Me (EIN: 204830357) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Washington. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 55/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.5M. 4 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Believe In Me spend its money?
Believe In Me directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Believe In Me tax-deductible?
Believe In Me is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204830357). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Believe In Me's spending goes to programs?
Believe In Me directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Believe In Me compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 55/100 (Fair), Believe In Me is near average for NTEE category T30 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Believe In Me located?
Believe In Me is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and files with the IRS under EIN 204830357. It is classified under NTEE code T30.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Believe In Me have?
Believe In Me 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 $1.5M in total revenue.
Is Believe In Me a good charity?
While Believe In Me demonstrates transparency by reporting 0% officer compensation, its financial health is concerning due to consistent and significant deficits, with expenses far exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., $173,232 revenue vs. $1,204,260 expenses in 2023). This trend has led to a substantial decline in assets, raising questions about its long-term sustainability and ability to consistently deliver on its mission.
Why are Believe In Me's assets declining?
Believe In Me's assets have been declining significantly, from a peak of over $12 million in 2019 to $7,275,534 in 2023. This decline is primarily due to the organization consistently spending more than it earns, as evidenced by large deficits in recent years (e.g., $1,204,260 expenses vs. $173,232 revenue in 2023), forcing it to draw down its reserves.
What is the trend in Believe In Me's revenue?
Believe In Me's revenue has shown a concerning downward trend in recent years, dropping from $1,536,899 in 2017 to $173,232 in 2023. This significant decrease in funding is a major contributor to the organization's financial challenges and deficits.
How does Believe In Me manage executive compensation?
Believe In Me manages executive compensation very conservatively, reporting 0% officer compensation in all available IRS 990 filings. This indicates that no compensation is paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is a strong positive for resource allocation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Believe In Me showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Believe In Me's revenue has declined by 75.5%, moving from $708K to $173K. Total assets decreased by 25.6% over the same period, from $9.8M to $7.3M. Total functional expenses fell by 4.9%, from $1.3M to $1.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Believe In Me reported a deficit of $1.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $265K in liabilities against $7.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.6%), resulting in net assets of $7.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $173K | $1.2M | $7.3M | $265K | — | — |
| 2022 | $370K | $1.2M | $7.8M | $425K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $676K | $3.6M | $12.1M | $2.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $684K | $1.3M | $11.9M | $52K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $515K | $909K | $12.2M | $299K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $394K | $613K | $11.1M | $18K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.5M | $586K | $12.0M | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.5M | $622K | $11.1M | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.1M | $779K | $10.2M | $20K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.1M | $902K | $10.4M | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.6M | $1.3M | $10.3M | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.4M | $2.0M | $9.1M | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $708K | $1.3M | $9.8M | $9K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $173K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $7.3M (revenue -53.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $370K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $7.8M (revenue -45.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $676K, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $12.1M (revenue -1.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $684K, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $11.9M (revenue +33.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $515K, expenses of $909K, and assets of $12.2M (revenue +30.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $394K, expenses of $613K, and assets of $11.1M (revenue -74.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $586K, and assets of $12.0M (revenue +3.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $622K, and assets of $11.1M (revenue +34.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $779K, and assets of $10.2M (revenue +3.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $902K, and assets of $10.4M (revenue -32.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $10.3M (revenue +17.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $9.1M (revenue +91.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $708K, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $9.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Believe In Me:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Believe In Me 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.