Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa

Small Elks Lodge operates on a lean budget with volunteer leadership and fluctuating modest revenues.

EIN: 10435204 · Wells, ME · NTEE: Y40Z · Updated: 2026-03-28

$0Revenue

$0Assets

75/100Mission Score (Good)

Y40Z

About Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa

Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa (EIN: 10435204) is a nonprofit organization based in Wells, ME, classified under NTEE code Y40Z. The organization reported total revenue of $0 and total assets of $0 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

The Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa (Wells, ME) appears to be a very small, local chapter with limited financial activity. Over the past decade, its annual revenue has fluctuated between approximately $19,000 and $57,000, with expenses generally tracking closely. For instance, in 2021, the organization reported $25,019 in revenue against $28,050 in expenses, indicating a slight deficit. Assets have remained modest, peaking at $16,765 in 2018, and liabilities have varied, sometimes exceeding assets, as seen in 2014 ($5,312 assets vs. $18,075 liabilities). This financial profile suggests a grassroots operation, likely relying on local membership dues and small-scale fundraising.

Given the data, the organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates a volunteer-driven leadership, which is a positive sign for minimizing administrative overhead. The organization's transparency is good in terms of filing its IRS Form 990s consistently, with nine filings available. The lack of significant revenue or assets suggests it operates on a very lean budget, typical for small fraternal organizations.

Overall, the financial health appears stable for its size, though it often operates close to its break-even point or with minor deficits. The absence of paid executive compensation is a strong indicator of efficient use of funds for its stated purpose, even if the specific program spending details are not granularly available. The organization's consistent filing history demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa with a Mission Score of 75 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: 15%
programs: 85%
fundraising: 0%

According to IRS 990 filings, Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 0%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization is run by volunteers and does not allocate funds to paid officers, which is highly efficient for an organization of its size.

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 Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa's IRS 990 filings:

Occasional operating deficits (e.g., 2021: $25,019 revenue vs. $28,050 expenses)
Liabilities sometimes exceed assets (e.g., 2014: $5,312 assets vs. $18,075 liabilities)
Limited financial reserves

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa:

Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings
Volunteer-driven leadership
Consistent IRS Form 990 filing history (9 filings)
Modest administrative overhead implied by volunteer leadership

Frequently Asked Questions about Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa

Is Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa (Wells, ME) a good charity?

Based on the available financial data, this specific Elks lodge appears to be a well-managed, volunteer-led organization. Its consistent 0% officer compensation is a strong positive, suggesting that funds are not diverted to high salaries. However, without detailed program spending breakdowns, it's hard to fully assess the impact of its charitable activities.

How does this organization's financial health compare to similar small nonprofits?

For a small, local fraternal organization, its financial health appears typical. It operates with modest revenues (ranging from $19k to $57k annually) and expenses, often breaking even or experiencing small deficits. Its asset base is also small, which is common for volunteer-run community groups.

What are the primary sources of revenue for this Elks lodge?

While specific sources aren't detailed in the summary data, for an organization of this type and size, primary revenue sources typically include membership dues, local fundraising events, and potentially small donations from the community. The fluctuating revenue suggests reliance on variable income streams.

Does this organization have a strong financial reserve?

No, the organization does not appear to have a strong financial reserve. Its assets have consistently been low, peaking at $16,765 in 2018, and often barely covering or being less than its liabilities, indicating it operates with very limited financial cushion.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:

Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2021), Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa's revenue has grown by 28.7%, moving from $19K to $25K. Total assets increased by 36.8% over the same period, from $5K to $7K. Total functional expenses fell by 10.6%, from $31K to $28K. In its most recent filing year (2021), Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa reported a deficit of $3K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $4K in liabilities against $7K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 56.0%), resulting in net assets of $3K.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2021	$25K	$28K	$7K	$4K	—	View 990
2020	$32K	$27K	$11K	$5K	—	View 990
2019	$21K	$18K	$4K	$4K	—	View 990
2018	$33K	$28K	$17K	$10K	—	View 990
2016	$57K	$40K	$13K	$889	—	—
2015	$39K	$31K	$6K	$11K	—	—
2014	$36K	$34K	$5K	$18K	—	—
2013	$24K	$26K	$5K	$19K	—	View 990
2012	$19K	$31K	$5K	$18K	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2021: Revenue of $25K, expenses of $28K, and assets of $7K (revenue -21.8% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $32K, expenses of $27K, and assets of $11K (revenue +53.8% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $21K, expenses of $18K, and assets of $4K (revenue -36.3% year-over-year).
2018: Revenue of $33K, expenses of $28K, and assets of $17K (revenue -42.7% year-over-year).
2016: Revenue of $57K, expenses of $40K, and assets of $13K (revenue +47.8% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $39K, expenses of $31K, and assets of $6K (revenue +6.9% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $36K, expenses of $34K, and assets of $5K (revenue +50.9% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $24K, expenses of $26K, and assets of $5K (revenue +22.8% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $19K, expenses of $31K, and assets of $5K.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks Of The Usa 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.