Bosko
Bosko shows inconsistent financial performance with several years of deficit spending, but reports 0% officer compensation.
EIN: 208598257 · Lake Forest, IL · NTEE: B82 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Bosko Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Bosko directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Bosko
Bosko (EIN: 208598257) is a nonprofit organization based in Lake Forest, IL, classified under NTEE code B82. The organization reported total revenue of $853K and total assets of $225K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Bosko's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Bosko 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: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Bosko allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers are either uncompensated or compensated through non-officer channels, which is a positive sign for resource allocation to the 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 Bosko's IRS 990 filings:
- Frequent periods of expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 202312, 202012, 201712), indicating potential operational deficits.
- Significant increase in liabilities in recent years, from $0 in 201912 to $60,100 in 202212 and 202312, without clear explanation.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Bosko:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (9 filings), demonstrating commitment to transparency.
- Overall growth in assets from $114,038 in 2010 to $224,618 currently, despite fluctuating annual performance.
- Clear mission focus as indicated by NTEE code B82 (Animal Protection & Welfare).
Frequently Asked Questions about Bosko
Is Bosko a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bosko (EIN: 208598257) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Bosko spend its money?
Bosko directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Bosko tax-deductible?
Bosko is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208598257). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Bosko financially stable given its history of deficit spending?
Bosko has experienced several years where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., $449,364 expenses vs. $393,331 revenue in 202312), which could raise concerns about long-term financial stability if not offset by prior surpluses or other funding. However, its assets have generally grown over time, suggesting some capacity to absorb these deficits.
How does Bosko fund its operations when expenses exceed revenue?
When expenses exceed revenue, Bosko likely relies on accumulated reserves (assets) from previous profitable years or receives significant non-revenue contributions not detailed in the provided summary to cover the shortfall.
What is the breakdown of Bosko's expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising?
The provided data does not offer a detailed functional expense breakdown. Without this information, it's difficult to precisely determine the percentage of funds directly allocated to programs versus overhead.
Why are liabilities increasing in recent years?
Liabilities have increased from $0 in 201912 to $60,100 in 202212 and 202312. The specific reasons for this increase are not detailed in the provided summary, but it could be due to new debt, deferred revenue, or other obligations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Bosko showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), Bosko's revenue has grown by 2472.6%, moving from $15K to $393K. Total assets increased by 26.8% over the same period, from $114K to $145K. Total functional expenses rose by 394.3%, from $91K to $449K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Bosko reported a deficit of $56K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $60K in liabilities against $145K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 41.6%), resulting in net assets of $84K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $393K | $449K | $145K | $60K | — | — |
| 2022 | $261K | $184K | $201K | $60K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $183K | $145K | $125K | $62K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $111K | $156K | $87K | $62K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $90K | $91K | $70K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $147K | $125K | $71K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $80K | $103K | $44K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $25K | $50K | $88K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $15K | $91K | $114K | $2K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $393K, expenses of $449K, and assets of $145K (revenue +50.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $261K, expenses of $184K, and assets of $201K (revenue +42.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $183K, expenses of $145K, and assets of $125K (revenue +65.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $111K, expenses of $156K, and assets of $87K (revenue +22.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $90K, expenses of $91K, and assets of $70K (revenue -38.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $147K, expenses of $125K, and assets of $71K (revenue +84.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $80K, expenses of $103K, and assets of $44K (revenue +225.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $25K, expenses of $50K, and assets of $88K (revenue +60.4% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $15K, expenses of $91K, and assets of $114K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Bosko 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.