New Jersey Retail Merchants Association
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association: Declining Revenue and High Administrative Costs Raise Concerns
EIN: 221834736 · Trenton, NJ · Updated: 2026-04-04
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $286K |
| Total Expenses | $279K |
| Program Spending | 50% |
| Net Assets | $68K |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association directs 50% of its spending to programs. This falls below the 65% benchmark. Donors may want to investigate further.
About New Jersey Retail Merchants Association
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association (EIN: 221834736) is a nonprofit organization based in Trenton, NJ. The organization reported total revenue of $286K and total assets of $167K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 59 years, with 8 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2018). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -9.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2018)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $286K |
| Total Expenses | $279K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$6K |
| Total Assets | $167K |
| Total Liabilities | $99K |
| Net Assets | $68K |
| Operating Margin | 2.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 59.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 7.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2018, New Jersey Retail Merchants Association reported a surplus of $6K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 7.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 59.4% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 8 years of filings (2011–2018), New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -9.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | -12.3% | -15.0% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | -23.8% | -25.4% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | -14.5% | -8.2% | -9.7% |
| 2015 | +5.6% | +5.4% | +8.3% |
| 2014 | +21.2% | +11.9% | -6.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1967 |
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 New Jersey Retail Merchants Association 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: 35%
- programs: 50%
- fundraising: 15%
According to IRS 990 filings, New Jersey Retail Merchants Association allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 35%, programs: 50%, fundraising: 15%. Approximately 50% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2018)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $6K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 59.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is not explicitly detailed in the provided data, making a direct assessment difficult without further filings.
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 New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant and consistent decline in revenue over the past eight years, from $591,402 in 2011 to $285,694 in 2018.
- High administrative costs relative to total expenses, with 'other expenses' (likely administrative) at $99,397 out of $279,364 total expenses in 2018.
- The organization's net assets have decreased from $355,836 in 2011 to $167,324 in 2018, indicating a weakening financial position.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for New Jersey Retail Merchants Association:
- Maintains a positive net asset balance, though it has been declining.
- Consistent filing of financial reports, indicating a basic level of compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about New Jersey Retail Merchants Association
Is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association a legitimate charity?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association (EIN: 221834736) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New Jersey. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 8 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $286K. 3 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does New Jersey Retail Merchants Association spend its money?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association directs 50% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 15%. This falls below the 65% benchmark.
Are donations to New Jersey Retail Merchants Association tax-deductible?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 221834736). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's spending goes to programs?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association directs 50% to programs, 15% to fundraising. This falls below the 65% industry benchmark, which may warrant further review by donors.
Where is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association located?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association is headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey and files with the IRS under EIN 221834736.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does New Jersey Retail Merchants Association have?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association has 8 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 $286K in total revenue.
What does New Jersey Retail Merchants Association do?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association is a nonprofit organization in the Unknown sector, located in Trenton, New Jersey. It is classified under NTEE code Unknown.
How much revenue does New Jersey Retail Merchants Association have?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association reported total revenue of $285,694. Based on 8 IRS 990 filings on record.
What are New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's total assets?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association holds total assets of $167,324 as reported in IRS 990 filings.
Where is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association located?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association is based in Trenton, New Jersey.
What is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's EIN?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 221834736. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS for tax-exempt organizations.
What type of nonprofit is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association is classified under NTEE code Unknown (Unknown).
Is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association a registered 501(c)(3)?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association appears in IRS records (EIN: 221834736). Check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for the most current determination letter status.
Does New Jersey Retail Merchants Association file IRS Form 990?
Yes, New Jersey Retail Merchants Association has 8 IRS Form 990 filings on record. The most recent covers tax period 201808.
What was New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's revenue in 2018?
In the 201808 filing period, New Jersey Retail Merchants Association reported total revenue of $285,694, total expenses of $279,364, and net assets of $167,324.
Is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's revenue growing or declining?
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's revenue is declining. Revenue went from $325,652 (201708) to $285,694 (201808), a -12.3% change. Based on 8 filings on record.
What is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's most recent 990 filing?
The most recent IRS Form 990 filing for New Jersey Retail Merchants Association covers tax period 201808. It shows revenue of $285,694, expenses of $279,364, total assets of $167,324, and liabilities of $99,397.
How much does New Jersey Retail Merchants Association spend on programs vs administration?
Based on IRS 990 analysis, New Jersey Retail Merchants Association allocates approximately 50% of expenses to program services, 35% to administrative costs, and 15% to fundraising. Program spending is moderate relative to overhead.
Is New Jersey Retail Merchants Association a trustworthy charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 data, New Jersey Retail Merchants Association shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100 (Good). 3 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted.
What are the red flags for New Jersey Retail Merchants Association?
The following concerns were identified: Significant and consistent decline in revenue over the past eight years, from $591,402 in 2011 to $285,694 in 2018.. High administrative costs relative to total expenses, with 'other expenses' (likely administrative) at $99,397 out of $279,364 total expenses in 2018.. The organization's net assets have decreased from $355,836 in 2011 to $167,324 in 2018, indicating a weakening financial position.. These flags are based on automated analysis of IRS 990 public filings and should be verified independently.
What are New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's strengths?
Positive indicators for New Jersey Retail Merchants Association include: Maintains a positive net asset balance, though it has been declining.. Consistent filing of financial reports, indicating a basic level of compliance.. These findings are derived from AI analysis of the organization's financial filings.
How does New Jersey Retail Merchants Association compensate executives?
Executive compensation is not explicitly detailed in the provided data, making a direct assessment difficult without further filings. Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require disclosure of officer, director, and key employee pay.
Given the consistent decline in revenue and net assets, what strategic changes has the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association implemented to reverse these trends and ensure long-term sustainability?
The provided data does not detail specific strategic changes. The continuous decline suggests that any implemented strategies have not yet been effective in stabilizing or growing revenue and assets.
How does the organization's reported 0% lobbying expense align with its mission as a 'Retail Merchants Association' which typically involves advocacy and lobbying efforts?
The 0% lobbying expense reported across all years is unusual for an organization with an advocacy-oriented name. This could indicate that lobbying activities are categorized under other expense lines, or that direct lobbying is not a primary focus despite the organization's name.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for New Jersey Retail Merchants Association showing financial trends over 8 years of public records:
Over 8 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2018), New Jersey Retail Merchants Association's revenue has declined by 51.7%, moving from $591K to $286K. Total assets decreased by 53% over the same period, from $356K to $167K. Total functional expenses fell by 52.7%, from $591K to $279K. In its most recent filing year (2018), New Jersey Retail Merchants Association reported a surplus of $6K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $99K in liabilities against $167K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 59.4%), resulting in net assets of $68K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $286K | $279K | $167K | $99K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $326K | $329K | $166K | $105K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $427K | $441K | $175K | $110K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $500K | $480K | $193K | $116K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $473K | $455K | $179K | $121K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $390K | $407K | $190K | $150K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $385K | $515K | $217K | $160K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $591K | $591K | $356K | $168K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2018: Revenue of $286K, expenses of $279K, and assets of $167K (revenue -12.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $326K, expenses of $329K, and assets of $166K (revenue -23.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $427K, expenses of $441K, and assets of $175K (revenue -14.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $500K, expenses of $480K, and assets of $193K (revenue +5.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $473K, expenses of $455K, and assets of $179K (revenue +21.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $390K, expenses of $407K, and assets of $190K (revenue +1.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $385K, expenses of $515K, and assets of $217K (revenue -35.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $591K, expenses of $591K, and assets of $356K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for New Jersey Retail Merchants Association:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for New Jersey Retail Merchants Association 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.