Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary
Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary maintains strong assets and low expenses despite fluctuating revenue.
EIN: 10408925 · Mount Desert, ME · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary
Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary (EIN: 10408925) is a nonprofit organization based in Mount Desert, ME. The organization reported total revenue of $708K and total assets of $7.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary'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 Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary with a Mission Score of 92 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: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led executive structure or that compensation falls below reporting thresholds, which contributes significantly to their operational efficiency.
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 Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary's IRS 990 filings:
- Highly volatile revenue streams, as seen by the $4.7M in 2022 followed by $212K in 2023, could indicate reliance on unpredictable large donations or grants.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Strong asset base of $7,439,895 provides long-term financial stability.
- Consistently low expenses relative to assets and mission, indicating high operational efficiency.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a strong commitment to directing funds towards programs.
- Minimal liabilities (often $1) demonstrate excellent financial management and low debt.
- Consistent growth in assets over the past decade, from $2.1M in 2011 to $7.4M currently.
Frequently Asked Questions about Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary
Is Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary (EIN: 10408925) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary spend its money?
Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary tax-deductible?
Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10408925). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary a good charity?
Based on its financial data, Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary appears to be a very good charity. It maintains substantial assets ($7,439,895), keeps expenses low (e.g., $175,709 in 2023), and reports no officer compensation, suggesting a high proportion of funds go directly to its mission.
Why did revenue spike so dramatically in 2022?
The revenue spike to $4,711,652 in 2022, compared to $104,133 in 2021 and $212,976 in 2023, is a significant anomaly. This could be due to a large one-time donation, a major grant, or an asset sale, which would be important to understand for future financial projections.
How does the organization manage to operate with such low expenses?
The organization consistently reports very low expenses (e.g., $175,709 in 2023, $189,077 in 2022) and 0% officer compensation, suggesting a highly efficient operation, potentially relying heavily on volunteers, in-kind donations, or a very lean administrative structure.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary's revenue has grown by 562.9%, moving from $32K to $213K. Total assets increased by 235.6% over the same period, from $2.1M to $7.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 118.9%, from $80K to $176K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary reported a surplus of $37K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $430 in liabilities against $7.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $7.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $213K | $176K | $7.2M | $430 | — | — |
| 2022 | $4.7M | $189K | $7.2M | $64K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $104K | $139K | $2.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $367K | $97K | $2.6M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $121K | $93K | $2.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $33K | $58K | $2.3M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $281K | $74K | $2.4M | $844 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $99K | $83K | $2.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $71K | $82K | $2.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $32K | $80K | $2.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $213K, expenses of $176K, and assets of $7.2M (revenue -95.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $189K, and assets of $7.2M (revenue +4424.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $104K, expenses of $139K, and assets of $2.5M (revenue -71.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $367K, expenses of $97K, and assets of $2.6M (revenue +202.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $121K, expenses of $93K, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +264.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $33K, expenses of $58K, and assets of $2.3M (revenue -88.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $281K, expenses of $74K, and assets of $2.4M (revenue +182.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $99K, expenses of $83K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +39.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $71K, expenses of $82K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +120.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $32K, expenses of $80K, and assets of $2.1M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary 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.