Live Wire Radio Inc
Live Wire Radio Inc. faces recent operating deficits despite consistent program focus and zero executive compensation.
EIN: 203813278 · Portland, OR · NTEE: A34 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $725K |
| Total Expenses | $707K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $700,000. |
| Net Assets | $152K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Live Wire Radio Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Live Wire Radio Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Live Wire Radio Inc
Live Wire Radio Inc (EIN: 203813278) is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, OR, classified under NTEE code A34. The organization reported total revenue of $725K and total assets of $127K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Live Wire Radio Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Live Wire Radio Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $669K |
| Total Expenses | $707K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-38,606 |
| Total Assets | $165K |
| Total Liabilities | $12K |
| Net Assets | $152K |
| Operating Margin | -5.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 7.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 2.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Live Wire Radio Inc reported a deficit of $39K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 2.8 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 7.6% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Live Wire Radio Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +15.8% | +11.3% | -14.9% |
| 2022 | -0.5% | +14.8% | -26.9% |
| 2021 | +11.8% | +14.3% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | +4.9% | +0.3% | +27.8% |
| 2019 | +6.8% | +9.0% | +10.1% |
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 Live Wire Radio Inc 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, Live Wire Radio Inc 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.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $39K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 7.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization. This is a strong positive indicator for a nonprofit of its size, with recent revenues around $700,000.
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 Live Wire Radio Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses consistently exceeding revenue in the last two reported periods (2022 and 2023), leading to operational deficits.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Live Wire Radio Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in directing funds to programs.
- Strong program focus, with a high percentage of spending likely directed towards its mission.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods, demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Live Wire Radio Inc
Is Live Wire Radio Inc a legitimate charity?
Live Wire Radio Inc (EIN: 203813278) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Oregon. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $725K. 1 red flag identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Live Wire Radio Inc spend its money?
Live Wire Radio Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Live Wire Radio Inc tax-deductible?
Live Wire Radio Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203813278). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Live Wire Radio Inc CEO make?
Live Wire Radio Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $700,000. annually. The organization reported $725K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Live Wire Radio Inc's spending goes to programs?
Live Wire Radio Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Live Wire Radio Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Live Wire Radio Inc is above average for NTEE category A34 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Live Wire Radio Inc located?
Live Wire Radio Inc is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and files with the IRS under EIN 203813278. It is classified under NTEE code A34.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Live Wire Radio Inc have?
Live Wire Radio Inc has 13 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 $725K in total revenue.
Is Live Wire Radio Inc. a good charity?
Based on the available data, Live Wire Radio Inc. appears to be a good charity, particularly due to its strong program focus and zero executive compensation. However, potential donors should be aware of the recent trend of expenses exceeding revenue.
What is the trend in Live Wire Radio Inc.'s financial health?
Live Wire Radio Inc. has experienced a trend of expenses exceeding revenue in the most recent two fiscal periods (2022 and 2023), with a deficit of $38,606 in 2023 and $58,116 in 2022. Prior to that, it generally operated with surpluses.
How does Live Wire Radio Inc. manage its executive compensation?
Live Wire Radio Inc. has reported 0% officer compensation in all available IRS 990 filings, indicating that no officers received salaries or other compensation from the organization.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Live Wire Radio Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Live Wire Radio Inc's revenue has grown by 125.5%, moving from $297K to $669K. Total assets increased by 172.6% over the same period, from $60K to $165K. Total functional expenses rose by 190.1%, from $244K to $707K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Live Wire Radio Inc reported a deficit of $39K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $12K in liabilities against $165K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 7.6%), resulting in net assets of $152K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $669K | $707K | $165K | $12K | — | — |
| 2022 | $577K | $636K | $193K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $580K | $554K | $264K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $519K | $484K | $264K | $46K | — | — |
| 2019 | $495K | $483K | $207K | $23K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $463K | $443K | $188K | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $543K | $525K | $159K | $8K | — | — |
| 2016 | $444K | $447K | $143K | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $490K | $455K | $170K | $31K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $439K | $387K | $115K | $12K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $327K | $327K | $59K | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $294K | $293K | $66K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $297K | $244K | $60K | $4K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $669K, expenses of $707K, and assets of $165K (revenue +15.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $577K, expenses of $636K, and assets of $193K (revenue -0.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $580K, expenses of $554K, and assets of $264K (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $519K, expenses of $484K, and assets of $264K (revenue +4.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $495K, expenses of $483K, and assets of $207K (revenue +6.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $463K, expenses of $443K, and assets of $188K (revenue -14.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $543K, expenses of $525K, and assets of $159K (revenue +22.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $444K, expenses of $447K, and assets of $143K (revenue -9.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $490K, expenses of $455K, and assets of $170K (revenue +11.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $439K, expenses of $387K, and assets of $115K (revenue +34.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $327K, expenses of $327K, and assets of $59K (revenue +11.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $294K, expenses of $293K, and assets of $66K (revenue -0.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $297K, expenses of $244K, and assets of $60K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Live Wire Radio Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Live Wire Radio Inc 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.