Erie County Agricultural Society
Erie County Agricultural Society maintains strong assets despite revenue fluctuations and reports no officer compensation.
EIN: 160790021 · Hamburg, NY · NTEE: N520 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Erie County Agricultural Society Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Erie County Agricultural Society directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Erie County Agricultural Society
Erie County Agricultural Society (EIN: 160790021) is a nonprofit organization based in Hamburg, NY, classified under NTEE code N520. The organization reported total revenue of $14.2M and total assets of $56.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Erie County Agricultural Society'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 Erie County Agricultural Society 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: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Erie County Agricultural Society 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
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its officers are not directly compensated or are compensated through non-officer roles, which is a strong positive for transparency and resource allocation.
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 Erie County Agricultural Society's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses slightly exceeded revenue in the latest filing (202311), leading to a minor operating deficit.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Erie County Agricultural Society:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong financial transparency regarding executive pay.
- Substantial and stable asset base, with assets consistently above $56 million, providing financial resilience.
- Demonstrated ability to recover from significant revenue downturns, as seen after the 2020 period.
- Strong revenue generation, with the latest reported revenue at $11,457,693.
Frequently Asked Questions about Erie County Agricultural Society
Is Erie County Agricultural Society a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Erie County Agricultural Society (EIN: 160790021) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Erie County Agricultural Society spend its money?
Erie County Agricultural Society directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Erie County Agricultural Society tax-deductible?
Erie County Agricultural Society is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 160790021). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Erie County Agricultural Society a good charity?
Based on the available data, the Erie County Agricultural Society appears to be a well-managed organization with substantial assets and a commitment to its mission, as evidenced by its financial stability and zero reported officer compensation. Its ability to recover from the 2020 revenue dip also suggests resilience.
How did the organization manage the significant revenue drop in 2020?
In 2020, revenue dropped to $925,356 from $8,916,717 in 2019. While expenses also decreased from $8,481,134 to $3,154,253, the organization still operated at a significant deficit. However, its substantial asset base of $57,869,530 likely provided a buffer during this challenging period, allowing it to maintain operations and recover in subsequent years.
What is the trend in the organization's assets?
The organization's assets have remained robust, consistently above $56 million over the past decade. They peaked around $62.5 million in 2017 and currently stand at $57,159,851 in the latest filing, indicating strong financial reserves.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Erie County Agricultural Society showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Erie County Agricultural Society's revenue has grown by 83.3%, moving from $6.2M to $11.5M. Total assets increased by 6.4% over the same period, from $53.7M to $57.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 209.7%, from $3.8M to $11.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Erie County Agricultural Society reported a deficit of $277K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $9.5M in liabilities against $57.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 16.6%), resulting in net assets of $47.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $11.5M | $11.7M | $57.2M | $9.5M | — | — |
| 2022 | $9.3M | $10.2M | $58.1M | $10.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $12.2M | $7.8M | $60.9M | $11.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $925K | $3.2M | $57.9M | $13.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $8.9M | $8.5M | $61.7M | $15.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $7.7M | $7.2M | $61.1M | $15.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $6.1M | $4.1M | $62.5M | $16.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $6.3M | $4.2M | $61.3M | $17.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $6.3M | $3.9M | $61.2M | $19.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $6.7M | $4.6M | $56.7M | $17.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $6.4M | $3.9M | $54.7M | $17.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $6.9M | $4.1M | $54.4M | $19.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $6.2M | $3.8M | $53.7M | $22.0M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $11.5M, expenses of $11.7M, and assets of $57.2M (revenue +23.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $9.3M, expenses of $10.2M, and assets of $58.1M (revenue -23.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $12.2M, expenses of $7.8M, and assets of $60.9M (revenue +1218.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $925K, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $57.9M (revenue -89.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $8.9M, expenses of $8.5M, and assets of $61.7M (revenue +16.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $7.7M, expenses of $7.2M, and assets of $61.1M (revenue +26.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $6.1M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $62.5M (revenue -3.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $6.3M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $61.3M (revenue -0.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $6.3M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $61.2M (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $6.7M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $56.7M (revenue +5.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $6.4M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $54.7M (revenue -7.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $6.9M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $54.4M (revenue +10.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $6.2M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $53.7M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Erie County Agricultural Society 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.