South Scioto Academy

South Scioto Academy shows historical financial instability with fluctuating assets and liabilities, and consistent 0% officer compensation.

EIN: 204234575 · Columbus, OH · NTEE: B290 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$3.7MRevenue
$89KAssets
55/100Mission Score (Fair)
B290
South Scioto Academy Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$3.7M
Total Expenses$3.2M
Program Spending80%
CEO/Top Officer Pay$3
Net Assets$100
Transparency Score55/100

Is South Scioto Academy Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
ModerateTransparency
4 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

South Scioto Academy directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About South Scioto Academy

South Scioto Academy (EIN: 204234575) is a nonprofit organization based in Columbus, OH, classified under NTEE code B290. The organization reported total revenue of $3.7M and total assets of $89K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of South Scioto Academy's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

19Years Operating
Mid-SizeSize Classification
10Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

South Scioto Academy is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.9%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$3.2M
Total Expenses$3.2M
Surplus / Deficit+$0
Total Assets$28K
Total Liabilities$28K
Net Assets$100
Operating Margin0.0%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio99.6%
Months of Reserves0.1 months

Financial Health Grade: C

In 2023, South Scioto Academy reported a surplus of $0 with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 0.1 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 99.6% (high leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), South Scioto Academy's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023+64.4%+64.4%-82.6%
2020-17.5%-17.5%+31.8%
2019+17.0%+16.9%-23.2%
2018-3.4%-3.3%-50.4%
2017-0.3%+1.2%-20.3%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes1000
IRS Ruling Date2007

Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.

AI Transparency Report

South Scioto Academy demonstrates a concerning financial trend with its liabilities frequently exceeding its assets, as seen in 2019 ($120,644 assets vs. $1,924,975 liabilities) and 2018 ($157,184 assets vs. $1,779,098 liabilities). While the latest filing shows a positive net asset position ($27,724 assets vs. $27,624 liabilities in 2023), the overall historical pattern suggests potential solvency issues. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of its size and could indicate a lack of transparency regarding how leadership is compensated, or that key personnel are compensated through other means or entities. The consistent reporting of expenses matching revenue exactly in several periods (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2019, 2017) also raises questions about the precision of financial reporting or a strategy to avoid accumulating surpluses. Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, while potentially a positive for donor perception, could also mask other forms of compensation or indicate a reliance on volunteer leadership, which may not be sustainable for an organization with over $3 million in annual revenue. The significant fluctuations in assets and liabilities over the years, particularly the periods of high liabilities, suggest inconsistent financial management or significant capital projects that are not fully explained by the provided data. Transparency is a mixed bag. The public availability of 990 filings is a strength, but the lack of detailed expense breakdowns and the consistent 0% officer compensation figures across multiple years for an organization of this scale warrant further investigation. Donors would benefit from more granular financial reporting to understand how funds are allocated across programs, administration, and fundraising, and how leadership is truly compensated. The historical financial instability, particularly the high liabilities, also points to areas where greater transparency and explanation would be beneficial.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates South Scioto Academy with a Mission Score of 55 out of 100 (Fair). 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, South Scioto Academy 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.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

$3.2MTotal Revenue
$3.2MTotal Expenses
$28KTotal Assets
$28KTotal Liabilities
$100Net Assets
  • The organization reported a surplus of $0, with revenue exceeding expenses.
  • Debt-to-asset ratio: 99.6%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization with annual revenues exceeding $3 million, suggesting either a reliance on unpaid leadership or that compensation is reported under different categories, which could be a transparency concern.

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 South Scioto Academy's IRS 990 filings:

  • Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $3 million in revenue, raising transparency concerns.
  • Historical periods of significantly higher liabilities than assets (e.g., 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015), indicating potential financial instability.
  • Exact matching of revenue and expenses in multiple filing periods, which is unusual and warrants scrutiny.
  • Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary data, hindering efficiency assessment.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for South Scioto Academy:

  • Consistent growth in revenue, from $1.18 million in 2012 to $3.74 million currently, indicating increasing support.
  • Publicly available IRS 990 filings, demonstrating a basic level of transparency.
  • The latest filing (2023) shows a positive net asset position, albeit small ($27,724 assets vs. $27,624 liabilities).

Frequently Asked Questions about South Scioto Academy

Is South Scioto Academy a legitimate charity?

South Scioto Academy (EIN: 204234575) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Ohio. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 55/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $3.7M. 4 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.

How does South Scioto Academy spend its money?

South Scioto Academy directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.

Are donations to South Scioto Academy tax-deductible?

South Scioto Academy is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204234575). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

How much does the South Scioto Academy CEO make?

South Scioto Academy's highest-compensated officer earns $3 annually. The organization reported $3.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.

What percentage of South Scioto Academy's spending goes to programs?

South Scioto Academy directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

How does South Scioto Academy compare to similar nonprofits?

With a transparency score of 55/100 (Fair), South Scioto Academy is near average for NTEE category B290 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.

Where is South Scioto Academy located?

South Scioto Academy is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and files with the IRS under EIN 204234575. It is classified under NTEE code B290.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does South Scioto Academy have?

South Scioto Academy has 10 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 $3.7M in total revenue.

Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0% despite significant revenue?

This is a significant red flag for transparency. It could mean officers are unpaid volunteers, compensated through a related entity, or that compensation is miscategorized within other expense lines, making it difficult to assess true administrative costs.

What caused the periods of extremely high liabilities, such as $1,924,975 in 2019, relative to assets?

Such high liabilities relative to assets (e.g., $120,644 assets in 2019) indicate potential solvency issues or significant debt financing, which requires further investigation into the nature of these liabilities (e.g., mortgages, bonds, program-related investments).

How are program, administrative, and fundraising expenses truly allocated?

Without a detailed breakdown beyond the summary data, it's challenging to determine the organization's spending efficiency and how much directly supports its mission versus overhead.

What is the explanation for revenue consistently matching expenses exactly in several filing periods?

This exact matching (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2019, 2017) is statistically improbable for most organizations and could suggest aggressive accounting practices to avoid reporting surpluses or deficits, or a very tight budgeting process.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for South Scioto Academy showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), South Scioto Academy's revenue has grown by 123.6%, moving from $1.4M to $3.2M. Total assets decreased by 92.3% over the same period, from $359K to $28K. Total functional expenses rose by 125.7%, from $1.4M to $3.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), South Scioto Academy reported a surplus of $0, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $28K in liabilities against $28K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 99.6%), resulting in net assets of $100.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $3.2M $3.2M $28K $28K
2020 $2.0M $2.0M $159K $79K View 990
2019 $2.4M $2.4M $121K $1.9M View 990
2018 $2.0M $2.0M $157K $1.8M View 990
2017 $2.1M $2.1M $317K $1.8M View 990
2015 $2.1M $2.1M $397K $1.7M View 990
2014 $1.8M $1.9M $216K $156K View 990
2013 $1.5M $1.6M $294K $146K View 990
2012 $1.2M $1.2M $295K $128K View 990
2011 $1.4M $1.4M $359K $156K View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

  • 2023: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $28K (revenue +64.4% year-over-year).
  • 2020: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $159K (revenue -17.5% year-over-year).
  • 2019: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $121K (revenue +17.0% year-over-year).
  • 2018: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $157K (revenue -3.4% year-over-year).
  • 2017: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $317K (revenue -0.3% year-over-year).
  • 2015: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $397K (revenue +17.7% year-over-year).
  • 2014: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $216K (revenue +18.4% year-over-year).
  • 2013: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $294K (revenue +27.6% year-over-year).
  • 2012: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $295K (revenue -17.7% year-over-year).
  • 2011: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $359K.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for South Scioto Academy:

2023 Filing 2020 Filing 2019 Filing 2018 Filing 2017 Filing 2015 Filing 2014 Filing 2013 Filing 2012 Filing 2011 Filing

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for South Scioto Academy 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.

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