Help Malawi
Help Malawi consistently dedicates 75% of expenses to programs but frequently operates with deficit spending.
EIN: 208355001 · Cleveland, OH · NTEE: S32 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $509K |
| Total Expenses | $472K |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $27K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Help Malawi Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Help Malawi directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Help Malawi
Help Malawi (EIN: 208355001) is a nonprofit organization based in Cleveland, OH, classified under NTEE code S32. The organization reported total revenue of $509K and total assets of $36K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Help Malawi's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Help Malawi is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2019). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -4.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $437K |
| Total Expenses | $472K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-34,361 |
| Total Assets | $36K |
| Total Liabilities | $8K |
| Net Assets | $27K |
| Operating Margin | -7.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 23.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 0.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2019, Help Malawi reported a deficit of $34K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 0.9 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 23.3% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2010–2019), Help Malawi's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -4.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +14.7% | +3.7% | -41.8% |
| 2018 | -19.4% | +6.1% | -73.1% |
| 2017 | +3.8% | +5.7% | +163.7% |
| 2016 | +2.9% | -4.7% | +144.6% |
| 2015 | -10.4% | -19.1% | +57.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Help Malawi 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Help Malawi allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $34K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 23.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led organization or one where leadership compensation is covered by other means, which is highly efficient for a nonprofit of this 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 Help Malawi's IRS 990 filings:
- Frequent deficit spending (e.g., 2019 expenses $471,768 vs. revenue $437,407)
- Fluctuating asset base, with a significant drop from $227,634 in 2017 to $35,635 in 2019
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Help Malawi:
- Strong program spending ratio of 75%
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds
- Low liabilities, suggesting responsible financial management despite asset fluctuations
- Long operational history (10 filings provided) demonstrating resilience
Frequently Asked Questions about Help Malawi
Is Help Malawi a legitimate charity?
Help Malawi (EIN: 208355001) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Ohio. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $509K. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Help Malawi spend its money?
Help Malawi directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Help Malawi tax-deductible?
Help Malawi is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208355001). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Help Malawi's spending goes to programs?
Help Malawi directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Help Malawi compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Help Malawi is above average for NTEE category S32 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Help Malawi located?
Help Malawi is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and files with the IRS under EIN 208355001. It is classified under NTEE code S32.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Help Malawi have?
Help Malawi has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $509K in total revenue.
Is Help Malawi financially sustainable given its frequent deficit spending?
Help Malawi has frequently reported expenses exceeding revenue, such as in 2019 ($471,768 expenses vs. $437,407 revenue). While this suggests a need for closer monitoring of financial sustainability, the organization has managed to operate for over a decade, indicating a capacity to manage these fluctuations, possibly through reserves or future fundraising.
How does Help Malawi manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that Help Malawi is either entirely volunteer-run at the executive level or that executive salaries are covered by an external entity or through non-officer roles, which is a significant factor in its high program spending ratio.
What is the trend in Help Malawi's assets and liabilities?
Help Malawi's assets have fluctuated, from a high of $227,634 in 2017 to $35,635 in 2019. Liabilities have generally remained low, with the latest at $8,307, indicating that the organization is not heavily indebted despite its asset fluctuations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Help Malawi showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2019), Help Malawi's revenue has declined by 34.6%, moving from $669K to $437K. Total assets decreased by 78% over the same period, from $162K to $36K. Total functional expenses fell by 27.1%, from $647K to $472K. In its most recent filing year (2019), Help Malawi reported a deficit of $34K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $8K in liabilities against $36K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 23.3%), resulting in net assets of $27K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $437K | $472K | $36K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $381K | $455K | $61K | $-464 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $473K | $429K | $228K | $319 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $455K | $406K | $86K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $443K | $426K | $35K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $494K | $526K | $22K | $20K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $417K | $425K | $38K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $387K | $459K | $43K | $371 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $540K | $537K | $121K | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $669K | $647K | $162K | $51K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2019: Revenue of $437K, expenses of $472K, and assets of $36K (revenue +14.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $381K, expenses of $455K, and assets of $61K (revenue -19.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $473K, expenses of $429K, and assets of $228K (revenue +3.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $455K, expenses of $406K, and assets of $86K (revenue +2.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $443K, expenses of $426K, and assets of $35K (revenue -10.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $494K, expenses of $526K, and assets of $22K (revenue +18.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $417K, expenses of $425K, and assets of $38K (revenue +7.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $387K, expenses of $459K, and assets of $43K (revenue -28.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $540K, expenses of $537K, and assets of $121K (revenue -19.3% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $669K, expenses of $647K, and assets of $162K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Help Malawi:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Help Malawi 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.