City Lights & Company
City Lights & Company maintains stable operations with no reported officer compensation and low liabilities.
EIN: 205462244 · Bridgeport, CT · NTEE: A20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is City Lights & Company Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
City Lights & Company directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About City Lights & Company
City Lights & Company (EIN: 205462244) is a nonprofit organization based in Bridgeport, CT, classified under NTEE code A20. The organization reported total revenue of $320K and total assets of $76K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of City Lights & Company'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 City Lights & Company 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, City Lights & Company 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.
Executive Compensation Analysis
City Lights & Company has consistently reported 0% officer compensation across all 13 available IRS 990 filings, indicating that its leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through mechanisms not classified as officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and operational history.
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 City Lights & Company's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown beyond total revenue and expenses in provided data, making precise program efficiency analysis difficult.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for City Lights & Company:
- Consistent history of IRS 990 filings, indicating good transparency and compliance.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting efficient use of funds for mission-related activities.
- Low liabilities relative to assets and revenue, indicating sound financial management and minimal debt burden.
- Generally stable revenue streams over a long operational period, demonstrating resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions about City Lights & Company
Is City Lights & Company a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, City Lights & Company (EIN: 205462244) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does City Lights & Company spend its money?
City Lights & Company directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to City Lights & Company tax-deductible?
City Lights & Company is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205462244). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is City Lights & Company financially stable?
Yes, the organization appears financially stable, consistently generating revenue and managing expenses. While revenue fluctuates (e.g., $233,617 in 2023 vs. $321,233 in 2022), it has maintained positive net assets in most years and very low liabilities, indicating sound financial management.
How does City Lights & Company manage executive compensation?
According to all available IRS 990 filings, City Lights & Company reports 0% officer compensation. This suggests that executive leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through non-officer compensation channels, which is a significant factor in its operational cost structure.
What is the trend in City Lights & Company's assets?
The organization's assets have fluctuated over time, ranging from a low of $15,978 in 2017 to a high of $57,422 in 2020, and $43,118 in the latest 2023 filing. The current assets of $76,208 (latest available data) indicate a modest but generally increasing trend in recent years, supporting its operations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for City Lights & Company showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), City Lights & Company's revenue has grown by 289%, moving from $60K to $234K. Total assets increased by 1530.8% over the same period, from $3K to $43K. Total functional expenses rose by 305.9%, from $60K to $244K. In its most recent filing year (2023), City Lights & Company reported a deficit of $10K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $287 in liabilities against $43K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.7%), resulting in net assets of $43K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $234K | $244K | $43K | $287 | — | — |
| 2022 | $321K | $289K | $53K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $143K | $180K | $21K | $0 | — | — |
| 2020 | $173K | $152K | $57K | $0 | — | — |
| 2019 | $236K | $219K | $37K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $171K | $165K | $21K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $159K | $183K | $16K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $192K | $179K | $39K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $133K | $158K | $27K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $170K | $145K | $51K | $0 | — | — |
| 2013 | $123K | $98K | $26K | $260 | — | — |
| 2012 | $60K | $62K | $4K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $60K | $60K | $3K | $-727 | — | — |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $234K, expenses of $244K, and assets of $43K (revenue -27.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $321K, expenses of $289K, and assets of $53K (revenue +124.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $143K, expenses of $180K, and assets of $21K (revenue -17.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $173K, expenses of $152K, and assets of $57K (revenue -26.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $236K, expenses of $219K, and assets of $37K (revenue +38.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $171K, expenses of $165K, and assets of $21K (revenue +7.2% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $159K, expenses of $183K, and assets of $16K (revenue -17.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $192K, expenses of $179K, and assets of $39K (revenue +44.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $133K, expenses of $158K, and assets of $27K (revenue -21.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $170K, expenses of $145K, and assets of $51K (revenue +38.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $123K, expenses of $98K, and assets of $26K (revenue +105.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $60K, expenses of $62K, and assets of $4K (revenue -0.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $60K, expenses of $60K, and assets of $3K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for City Lights & Company 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.