Houghton Academy
Houghton Academy consistently operates at a deficit, with expenses exceeding revenue in recent years.
EIN: 160838072 · Houghton, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.2M |
| Total Expenses | $2.2M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $302K |
| Transparency Score | 55/100 |
Is Houghton Academy Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Houghton Academy directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Houghton Academy
Houghton Academy (EIN: 160838072) is a nonprofit organization based in Houghton, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $2.2M and total assets of $1.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Houghton Academy's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Houghton Academy is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 43 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -3.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.6M |
| Total Expenses | $2.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-539,316 |
| Total Assets | $1.9M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.6M |
| Net Assets | $302K |
| Operating Margin | -32.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 84.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 10.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2024, Houghton Academy reported a deficit of $539K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 10.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 84.4% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2011–2024), Houghton Academy's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -3.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +42.0% | +36.0% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | +170.7% | +46.0% | +15.7% |
| 2022 | -51.9% | -6.1% | -10.4% |
| 2021 | -46.1% | -36.1% | -12.5% |
| 2020 | -24.5% | -24.3% | -13.1% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1983 |
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 Houghton Academy with a Mission Score of 55 out of 100 (Fair). 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, Houghton Academy 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 (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $539K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 84.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Houghton Academy reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation was paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is a strong positive for donor trust.
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 Houghton Academy's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operating deficits, with expenses frequently exceeding revenue (e.g., $2,182,391 expenses vs. $1,643,075 revenue in 202406).
- Significant decline in total assets over time, from $4,001,834 in 201506 to $1,938,341 in 202406.
- High liabilities relative to assets, with liabilities reaching $1,636,811 against $1,938,341 in assets in 202406, indicating potential financial strain.
- Volatile revenue streams, with substantial year-over-year fluctuations (e.g., $427,550 in 202206 to $1,643,075 in 202406).
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Houghton Academy:
- Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating strong fiscal responsibility regarding executive pay.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (14 filings), suggesting a commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Houghton Academy
Is Houghton Academy a legitimate charity?
Houghton Academy (EIN: 160838072) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 55/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.2M. 4 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Houghton Academy spend its money?
Houghton Academy directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Houghton Academy tax-deductible?
Houghton Academy is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 160838072). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Houghton Academy's spending goes to programs?
Houghton Academy directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Houghton Academy located?
Houghton Academy is headquartered in Houghton, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 160838072.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Houghton Academy have?
Houghton Academy has 14 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 $2.2M in total revenue.
Why has Houghton Academy consistently operated at a deficit?
The filings show that expenses have exceeded revenue in nearly every reported period, such as $2,182,391 in expenses vs. $1,643,075 in revenue in 202406, indicating a structural imbalance between income and expenditures.
What is the long-term plan to address the declining asset base?
Assets have decreased from $4,001,834 in 201506 to $1,938,341 in 202406. This consistent decline suggests a need for strategic financial planning to rebuild reserves and ensure sustainability.
How does Houghton Academy manage its liabilities relative to its assets?
In 202406, liabilities were $1,636,811 against assets of $1,938,341, indicating a high leverage ratio. This suggests a significant portion of assets are financed by debt, which could pose financial risk.
What are the primary sources of revenue and how are they trending?
Revenue has fluctuated significantly, from a high of $2,598,306 in 201606 to a low of $427,550 in 202206, and $1,643,075 in 202406. Understanding the stability and growth potential of these sources is crucial.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Houghton Academy showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2024), Houghton Academy's revenue has declined by 34%, moving from $2.5M to $1.6M. Total assets decreased by 43.1% over the same period, from $3.4M to $1.9M. Total functional expenses fell by 9.1%, from $2.4M to $2.2M. In its most recent filing year (2024), Houghton Academy reported a deficit of $539K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.6M in liabilities against $1.9M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 84.4%), resulting in net assets of $302K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.6M | $2.2M | $1.9M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $1.2M | $1.6M | $1.9M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $428K | $1.1M | $1.7M | $263K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $888K | $1.2M | $1.9M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.6M | $1.8M | $2.1M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $2.2M | $2.4M | $2.5M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $2.4M | $2.7M | $3.1M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2.5M | $2.6M | $3.5M | $1.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $2.6M | $2.6M | $3.7M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.5M | $2.5M | $4.0M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.6M | $2.4M | $3.7M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.4M | $2.4M | $3.3M | $1.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.4M | $2.3M | $3.4M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $2.5M | $2.4M | $3.4M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +42.0% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +170.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $428K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $1.7M (revenue -51.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $888K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -46.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -24.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $2.5M (revenue -10.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $3.1M (revenue -3.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $3.5M (revenue -2.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $3.7M (revenue +2.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue -0.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $3.7M (revenue +5.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $3.3M (revenue -0.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue -1.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $3.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Houghton Academy:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Houghton Academy 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.