Empower Play
Empower Play shows significant recent growth in revenue and assets after years of fluctuating financial performance.
EIN: 201573212 · Issaquah, WA · NTEE: N127 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Empower Play Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Empower Play directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Empower Play
Empower Play (EIN: 201573212) is a nonprofit organization based in Issaquah, WA, classified under NTEE code N127. The organization reported total revenue of $1.1M and total assets of $1.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Empower Play'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 Empower Play 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, Empower Play 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
Empower Play has consistently reported 0% officer compensation across all seven available IRS 990 filings, indicating that no executive salaries were paid, which is highly unusual for an organization with over $1 million in revenue and assets.
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 Empower Play's IRS 990 filings:
- Historical revenue volatility, with significant drops observed between 2014 and 2017.
- Expenses exceeded revenue in several early filing periods (e.g., 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013), indicating potential operational deficits in those years.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Empower Play:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating high dedication of resources to mission.
- Significant recent growth in revenue to $1,142,978 and assets to $1,162,576, demonstrating increased financial capacity.
- Generally low liabilities reported across most filing periods, suggesting sound financial management regarding debt.
Frequently Asked Questions about Empower Play
Is Empower Play a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Empower Play (EIN: 201573212) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Empower Play spend its money?
Empower Play directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Empower Play tax-deductible?
Empower Play is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201573212). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Empower Play a good charity?
Empower Play demonstrates strong indicators of a good charity, particularly its consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all filings, suggesting a high dedication of resources to its mission. Its recent substantial growth in revenue to $1,142,978 and assets to $1,162,576 also indicates increasing capacity and impact. However, a full assessment of 'goodness' would benefit from more detailed current expense breakdowns to confirm program spending efficiency.
How has Empower Play's financial health changed over time?
Empower Play's financial health has seen significant fluctuations. It experienced a period of decline from 2014 ($128,188 revenue) to 2017 ($2,500 revenue), with expenses often exceeding revenue. However, it has since rebounded dramatically, reporting $1,142,978 in latest revenue and $1,162,576 in assets, indicating a strong recent growth phase.
What is the significance of 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly significant. It suggests that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation, which typically means a very high percentage of funds are available for program activities rather than executive salaries.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Empower Play showing financial trends over 7 years of public records:
Over 7 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2017), Empower Play's revenue has declined by 93.6%, moving from $39K to $3K. Total assets decreased by 41% over the same period, from $43K to $25K. Total functional expenses fell by 89.7%, from $27K to $3K. In its most recent filing year (2017), Empower Play reported a deficit of $270, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $3K | $3K | $25K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $8K | $22K | $26K | $0 | — | — |
| 2015 | $88K | $94K | $40K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $128K | $129K | $46K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $12K | $70K | $14K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $43K | $20K | $66K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $39K | $27K | $43K | $218 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2017: Revenue of $3K, expenses of $3K, and assets of $25K (revenue -68.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $8K, expenses of $22K, and assets of $26K (revenue -91.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $88K, expenses of $94K, and assets of $40K (revenue -31.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $128K, expenses of $129K, and assets of $46K (revenue +935.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $12K, expenses of $70K, and assets of $14K (revenue -71.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $43K, expenses of $20K, and assets of $66K (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $39K, expenses of $27K, and assets of $43K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Empower Play 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.