Watertown Cable Access Corporation

Watertown Cable Access Corporation faces financial challenges with declining assets and expenses consistently exceeding revenue.

EIN: 202197937 · Watertown, MA · NTEE: A302 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$620KRevenue

$1.2MAssets

70/100Mission Score (Good)

A302

Is Watertown Cable Access Corporation Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency

ExcellentSpending Efficiency

GoodTransparency

3 FoundRed Flags

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

Watertown Cable Access Corporation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Watertown Cable Access Corporation

Watertown Cable Access Corporation (EIN: 202197937) is a nonprofit organization based in Watertown, MA, classified under NTEE code A302. The organization reported total revenue of $620K and total assets of $1.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Watertown Cable Access Corporation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

Watertown Cable Access Corporation demonstrates a consistent commitment to its mission, as evidenced by its program spending. However, the organization has experienced a notable decline in assets over the past several years, from a peak of $2,114,859 in 2017 to $1,257,226 in 2023. This trend, coupled with expenses frequently exceeding revenue (e.g., $777,049 in expenses vs. $382,066 in revenue in 2023), suggests a need for careful financial management to ensure long-term sustainability. The organization's transparency is bolstered by its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, and the reported 0% officer compensation indicates a focus on mission over executive pay.

The organization's financial health shows signs of strain, particularly in recent years where expenses have consistently outpaced revenue. For instance, in 2023, expenses were more than double the revenue. While the organization maintains a healthy asset base relative to its liabilities, the continuous draw-down on assets to cover operational deficits is a concern. The NTEE code A302 (Television, Radio, and Film) aligns with a community access corporation, suggesting its spending is likely directed towards program delivery and infrastructure maintenance for public access media.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Watertown Cable Access Corporation with a Mission Score of 70 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: 80%
fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Watertown Cable Access Corporation 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

The organization reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation is paid to its officers, which is a strong positive for mission focus and resource allocation.

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 Watertown Cable Access Corporation's IRS 990 filings:

Consistent decline in assets from $2,114,859 in 2017 to $1,257,226 in 2023.
Expenses frequently exceed revenue, notably in 2023 where expenses ($777,049) were more than double the revenue ($382,066).
Significant drop in revenue in 2023 compared to previous years.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Watertown Cable Access Corporation:

Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating good transparency.
0% officer compensation reported across all filings, demonstrating a strong commitment to mission over executive pay.
Maintains a healthy asset base relative to its liabilities, with liabilities consistently low (e.g., $19,067 in 2023).

Frequently Asked Questions about Watertown Cable Access Corporation

Is Watertown Cable Access Corporation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Watertown Cable Access Corporation (EIN: 202197937) some concerns. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

How does Watertown Cable Access Corporation spend its money?

Watertown Cable Access Corporation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.

Are donations to Watertown Cable Access Corporation tax-deductible?

Watertown Cable Access Corporation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 202197937). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Is Watertown Cable Access Corporation financially sustainable given its recent deficits?

The organization has consistently spent more than it earned in recent years, drawing down its assets from $2,114,859 in 2017 to $1,257,226 in 2023. This trend raises concerns about long-term financial sustainability without a change in revenue or expense patterns.

What caused the significant drop in revenue in 2023?

Revenue dropped from $634,008 in 2022 to $382,066 in 2023, a decrease of approximately 40%. The IRS 990 data alone does not specify the exact cause, but it warrants further investigation into funding sources or operational changes.

How does the organization cover its operational deficits?

With expenses frequently exceeding revenue, the organization appears to be covering its operational deficits by drawing down its accumulated assets, as evidenced by the consistent decline in total assets over the past several years.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Watertown Cable Access Corporation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Watertown Cable Access Corporation's revenue has declined by 21.1%, moving from $484K to $382K. Total assets decreased by 2.3% over the same period, from $1.3M to $1.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 54%, from $504K to $777K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Watertown Cable Access Corporation reported a deficit of $395K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $19K in liabilities against $1.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.5%), resulting in net assets of $1.2M.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$382K	$777K	$1.3M	$19K	—	—
2022	$634K	$757K	$1.6M	$15K	—	View 990
2021	$630K	$700K	$1.8M	$16K	—	View 990
2020	$654K	$718K	$1.8M	$17K	—	—
2019	$685K	$804K	$1.9M	$13K	—	View 990
2018	$697K	$794K	$2.0M	$8K	—	View 990
2017	$754K	$719K	$2.1M	$8K	—	—
2016	$1.2M	$652K	$2.1M	$7K	—	View 990
2015	$565K	$589K	$1.3M	$5K	—	View 990
2014	$549K	$518K	$1.4M	$4K	—	View 990
2013	$518K	$495K	$1.3M	$2K	—	View 990
2012	$502K	$469K	$1.3M	$14K	—	View 990
2011	$484K	$504K	$1.3M	$12K	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $382K, expenses of $777K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue -39.7% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $634K, expenses of $757K, and assets of $1.6M (revenue +0.7% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $630K, expenses of $700K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue -3.6% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $654K, expenses of $718K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue -4.6% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $685K, expenses of $804K, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -1.8% year-over-year).
2018: Revenue of $697K, expenses of $794K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -7.5% year-over-year).
2017: Revenue of $754K, expenses of $719K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -35.1% year-over-year).
2016: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $652K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +105.5% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $565K, expenses of $589K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +2.9% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $549K, expenses of $518K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +5.9% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $518K, expenses of $495K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +3.3% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $502K, expenses of $469K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +3.7% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $484K, expenses of $504K, and assets of $1.3M.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Watertown Cable Access Corporation 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.