Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc

Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc frequently operates at a deficit, with expenses exceeding revenue in recent years.

EIN: 150625507 · Auburn, NY · NTEE: A650 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$4.7MRevenue

$4.1MAssets

65/100Mission Score (Good)

A650

About Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc

Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc (EIN: 150625507) is a nonprofit organization based in Auburn, NY, classified under NTEE code A650. The organization reported total revenue of $4.7M and total assets of $4.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc has demonstrated fluctuating financial health over the past several years. While revenue has generally been in the $3-6 million range, the organization has frequently operated with expenses exceeding revenue, as seen in 2023 ($5,044,428 expenses vs. $4,207,321 revenue) and 2022 ($4,532,329 expenses vs. $3,164,063 revenue). This trend of deficit spending could indicate a reliance on prior year surpluses or other funding sources not immediately apparent, or it could signal potential long-term sustainability challenges if not addressed. The organization's assets have also shown some volatility, decreasing from $5,806,561 in 2021 to $4,544,038 in 2023, while liabilities have remained substantial, around $2-3 million.

Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent deficit spending in recent years suggests that the organization's operational costs frequently outpace its incoming revenue. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable point regarding transparency, as it could mean that executive compensation is either very low, non-existent, or reported in a way not captured by the 'Officer Comp' field in this summary. Further investigation into the full 990 forms would be necessary to clarify this.

Overall, Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc appears to be a well-established organization given its 13 filings, but its recent financial performance indicates a need for closer examination of its revenue generation and expense management strategies to ensure long-term stability. The lack of reported officer compensation is a positive sign for transparency if it truly reflects no compensation, but warrants verification.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc 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: 75%
fundraising: 10%

According to IRS 990 filings, Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc 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.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The provided data consistently shows 0% officer compensation across all reported periods, which suggests either no compensation is paid to officers or it is reported under a different category not captured here. This is a positive indicator for resource allocation if accurate, especially for an organization with revenues in the millions.

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 Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc's IRS 990 filings:

Frequent deficit spending, with expenses exceeding revenue in 6 out of the last 8 reported periods.
Significant decrease in assets from $5,806,561 in 2021 to $4,544,038 in 2023, while liabilities remain high.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc:

Long operating history with 13 IRS 990 filings, indicating established presence.
No reported officer compensation, suggesting efficient use of funds at the executive level (if accurate).
Significant revenue generation, consistently in the millions of dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions about Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc

Is Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc financially sustainable given its frequent deficit spending?

The organization has reported expenses exceeding revenue in multiple recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016). This trend raises questions about its long-term financial sustainability and reliance on reserves or other funding mechanisms.

What is the true breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?

The provided summary data does not offer a detailed breakdown of how expenses are allocated across programs, administration, and fundraising. A full IRS 990 filing would be needed to understand the organization's spending efficiency in these areas.

Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0%?

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is unusual for an organization of this size and revenue. It warrants further investigation to confirm if officers truly receive no compensation or if it's reported under a different expense category.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc's revenue has grown by 29.6%, moving from $3.2M to $4.2M. Total assets increased by 10% over the same period, from $4.1M to $4.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 42.2%, from $3.5M to $5.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Merry Go Round Playhouse Inc reported a deficit of $837K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $3.0M in liabilities against $4.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 65.3%), resulting in net assets of $1.6M.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$4.2M	$5.0M	$4.5M	$3.0M	—	—
2022	$3.2M	$4.5M	$5.4M	$3.0M	—	View 990
2021	$6.3M	$3.5M	$5.8M	$2.0M	—	View 990
2020	$2.3M	$2.3M	$3.2M	$2.3M	—	View 990
2019	$4.4M	$4.4M	$2.9M	$1.9M	—	View 990
2018	$4.2M	$4.2M	$3.4M	$2.4M	—	View 990
2017	$4.2M	$4.5M	$3.2M	$2.1M	—	View 990
2016	$4.7M	$5.0M	$3.5M	$2.3M	—	View 990
2015	$4.2M	$4.1M	$3.6M	$2.2M	—	View 990
2014	$4.7M	$4.6M	$3.9M	$2.5M	—	View 990
2013	$4.5M	$4.9M	$3.6M	$2.4M	—	View 990
2012	$3.3M	$3.4M	$3.8M	$2.2M	—	View 990
2011	$3.2M	$3.5M	$4.1M	$2.3M	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $4.5M (revenue +33.0% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $5.4M (revenue -50.1% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $6.3M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $5.8M (revenue +175.5% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $2.3M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue -47.7% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue +5.9% year-over-year).
2018: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue -1.7% year-over-year).
2017: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue -9.9% year-over-year).
2016: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $3.5M (revenue +13.0% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $3.6M (revenue -11.2% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $3.9M (revenue +4.5% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +35.2% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $3.4M, and assets of $3.8M (revenue +2.1% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $4.1M.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Merry Go Round Playhouse 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.