Lobster Conservancy

Lobster Conservancy faces persistent operational deficits and declining assets.

EIN: 10507500 · Friendship, ME · NTEE: U50 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$39KRevenue

$193KAssets

65/100Mission Score (Good)

U50

About Lobster Conservancy

Lobster Conservancy (EIN: 10507500) is a nonprofit organization based in Friendship, ME, classified under NTEE code U50. The organization reported total revenue of $39K and total assets of $193K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Lobster Conservancy's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

The Lobster Conservancy appears to be a small, long-standing organization with a consistent operational deficit over the past several years. In 2023, the organization reported revenue of $38,492 against expenses of $46,373, continuing a trend where expenses have outpaced revenue since at least 2017. This has led to a gradual decline in assets, from a peak of $304,387 in 2016 to $205,197 in 2023. While the organization maintains a healthy asset base relative to its annual expenses (approximately 4.4 years of operating expenses based on 2023 figures), the sustained deficit spending is a concern for long-term financial sustainability. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a volunteer-driven leadership, which can be a positive for program efficiency, but also raises questions about the capacity for strategic financial planning to address the ongoing deficits.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent operational losses indicate that the organization is not generating sufficient revenue to cover its activities. Transparency appears high in terms of public filings, with 13 filings available, and the consistent reporting of zero officer compensation is a clear indicator of how leadership is compensated. The low liabilities also suggest responsible financial management in terms of debt.

Overall, The Lobster Conservancy demonstrates a commitment to its mission, evidenced by its long operational history and volunteer leadership. However, its financial health is challenged by persistent deficits and declining assets, which warrant closer examination of its revenue generation strategies and expense management to ensure future viability. The organization's ability to sustain operations with declining assets will depend on its capacity to reverse the trend of deficit spending.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Lobster Conservancy with a Mission Score of 65 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: 15%
programs: 80%
fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Lobster Conservancy allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led organization. This suggests a high dedication to the mission and efficient use of donor funds for operational expenses rather than salaries.

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 Lobster Conservancy's IRS 990 filings:

Consistent operational deficits: Expenses have exceeded revenue in most recent years (e.g., $46,373 expenses vs. $38,492 revenue in 2023).
Declining asset base: Total assets have decreased from $304,387 in 2016 to $205,197 in 2023, indicating reliance on reserves to cover deficits.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Lobster Conservancy:

Volunteer-led leadership: Officer compensation has consistently been 0%, indicating a highly dedicated, unpaid leadership.
Low liabilities: Liabilities are minimal (e.g., $1,990 in 2023), suggesting responsible debt management.
Long operational history: The organization has a history of 13 filings, indicating sustained commitment to its mission.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lobster Conservancy

Is The Lobster Conservancy financially sustainable in the long term?

The organization has experienced consistent operational deficits since at least 2017, with expenses exceeding revenue. This trend has led to a gradual decline in assets, from $304,387 in 2016 to $205,197 in 2023. While current assets could cover approximately 4.4 years of 2023 expenses, the sustained deficit spending raises concerns about long-term financial sustainability without a change in revenue or expense trends.

How does the organization fund its operations given the deficits?

The organization has been funding its operational deficits by drawing down its accumulated assets. This is evident from the consistent decline in total assets over the past several years, as expenses have regularly exceeded incoming revenue.

What is the trend in The Lobster Conservancy's revenue?

Revenue has fluctuated but generally remained low, with the highest reported revenue in the last decade being $105,580 in 2016. More recently, revenue has been in the range of $35,000-$45,000 annually, such as $38,492 in 2023 and $45,163 in 2022, which is insufficient to cover expenses.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Lobster Conservancy showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Lobster Conservancy's revenue has declined by 19%, moving from $48K to $38K. Total assets decreased by 55.8% over the same period, from $465K to $205K. Total functional expenses fell by 38.3%, from $75K to $46K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Lobster Conservancy reported a deficit of $8K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2K in liabilities against $205K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.0%), resulting in net assets of $203K.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$38K	$46K	$205K	$2K	—	—
2022	$45K	$49K	$211K	$0	—	View 990
2021	$36K	$45K	$215K	$0	—	—
2020	$31K	$47K	$224K	$0	—	—
2019	$36K	$49K	$240K	$18	—	View 990
2018	$48K	$64K	$253K	$0	—	View 990
2017	$24K	$60K	$269K	$0	—	View 990
2016	$106K	$62K	$304K	$0	—	View 990
2015	$35K	$60K	$268K	$7K	—	View 990
2014	$32K	$59K	$293K	$7K	—	View 990
2013	$8K	$67K	$320K	$7K	—	View 990
2012	$31K	$67K	$457K	$84K	—	View 990
2011	$48K	$75K	$465K	$57K	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $38K, expenses of $46K, and assets of $205K (revenue -14.8% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $45K, expenses of $49K, and assets of $211K (revenue +26.4% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $36K, expenses of $45K, and assets of $215K (revenue +13.6% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $31K, expenses of $47K, and assets of $224K (revenue -13.0% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $36K, expenses of $49K, and assets of $240K (revenue -24.9% year-over-year).
2018: Revenue of $48K, expenses of $64K, and assets of $253K (revenue +98.4% year-over-year).
2017: Revenue of $24K, expenses of $60K, and assets of $269K (revenue -77.0% year-over-year).
2016: Revenue of $106K, expenses of $62K, and assets of $304K (revenue +200.5% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $35K, expenses of $60K, and assets of $268K (revenue +9.9% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $32K, expenses of $59K, and assets of $293K (revenue +287.9% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $8K, expenses of $67K, and assets of $320K (revenue -73.8% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $31K, expenses of $67K, and assets of $457K (revenue -33.8% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $48K, expenses of $75K, and assets of $465K.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Lobster Conservancy 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.