Middle East Studies Assoc Of North
Middle East Studies Association maintains stable finances and asset growth with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 136220175 · Tucson, AZ · NTEE: V35Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Middle East Studies Assoc Of North Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Middle East Studies Assoc Of North directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Middle East Studies Assoc Of North
Middle East Studies Assoc Of North (EIN: 136220175) is a nonprofit organization based in Tucson, AZ, classified under NTEE code V35Z. The organization reported total revenue of $916K and total assets of $3.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Middle East Studies Assoc Of North's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Middle East Studies Assoc Of North 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: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Middle East Studies Assoc Of North 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 is reported as 0% across all available filings, suggesting that the organization's leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through non-officer categories, which is highly unusual for an organization with annual revenues exceeding $900,000 and assets over $3 million.
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 Middle East Studies Assoc Of North's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed breakdown for program, admin, and fundraising expenses in summary data, making precise efficiency analysis difficult.
- Unusually consistent 0% officer compensation, which might warrant further investigation into how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Middle East Studies Assoc Of North:
- Consistent financial stability with revenues generally exceeding expenses.
- Healthy and growing asset base, reaching over $3.1 million in 2023.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting high dedication of funds to mission or volunteer leadership.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 13 periods, indicating good transparency practices.
Frequently Asked Questions about Middle East Studies Assoc Of North
Is Middle East Studies Assoc Of North a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Middle East Studies Assoc Of North (EIN: 136220175) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Middle East Studies Assoc Of North spend its money?
Middle East Studies Assoc Of North directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Middle East Studies Assoc Of North tax-deductible?
Middle East Studies Assoc Of North is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136220175). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Middle East Studies Assoc Of North a good charity?
Based on the provided data, MESA appears to be a financially stable organization with consistent revenue and asset growth. The absence of reported officer compensation is a significant positive, suggesting a high dedication of resources to its mission. However, a full assessment would require reviewing the detailed program, administrative, and fundraising expenses from the complete 990 forms.
How does MESA manage to operate without officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that MESA's leadership may be entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation for key management roles is categorized differently within the IRS 990, such as through independent contractor fees or other staff salaries, rather than as direct officer compensation.
What is the trend in MESA's financial health?
MESA demonstrates a positive financial trend, with revenues generally exceeding expenses, leading to consistent asset growth. For example, assets grew from $1,703,352 in 2015 to $3,112,512 in 2023, indicating strong financial management and an ability to build reserves.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Middle East Studies Assoc Of North showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Middle East Studies Assoc Of North's revenue has grown by 17.6%, moving from $893K to $1.0M. Total assets increased by 141.9% over the same period, from $1.3M to $3.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 49.7%, from $613K to $918K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Middle East Studies Assoc Of North reported a surplus of $132K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $145K in liabilities against $3.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 4.7%), resulting in net assets of $3.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.0M | $918K | $3.1M | $145K | — | — |
| 2022 | $914K | $936K | $3.0M | $321K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $891K | $639K | $3.2M | $146K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $852K | $608K | $2.7M | $181K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $939K | $800K | $2.4M | $138K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $797K | $811K | $2.1M | $157K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $957K | $799K | $2.3M | $184K | — | — |
| 2016 | $1.1M | $826K | $2.0M | $134K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $741K | $715K | $1.7M | $88K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $887K | $725K | $1.8M | $111K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $761K | $667K | $1.5M | $75K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $683K | $615K | $1.3M | $69K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $893K | $613K | $1.3M | $140K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $918K, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +14.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $914K, expenses of $936K, and assets of $3.0M (revenue +2.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $891K, expenses of $639K, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +4.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $852K, expenses of $608K, and assets of $2.7M (revenue -9.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $939K, expenses of $800K, and assets of $2.4M (revenue +17.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $797K, expenses of $811K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -16.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $957K, expenses of $799K, and assets of $2.3M (revenue -9.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $826K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue +41.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $741K, expenses of $715K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue -16.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $887K, expenses of $725K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue +16.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $761K, expenses of $667K, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +11.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $683K, expenses of $615K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue -23.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $893K, expenses of $613K, and assets of $1.3M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Middle East Studies Assoc Of North 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.