Quick charity verification for Ankeny Community Foundation (EIN: 203850596)
Verdict: Ankeny Community Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$33KRevenue
$87KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Highly volatile revenue streams over the past decade, making long-term financial planning challenging.
Significant decline in total assets from $782,059 in 2014 to $89,692 in 2023 without clear explanation in the provided data.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of IRS 990 filings, demonstrating strong transparency.
Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating a volunteer-driven leadership and efficient use of donor funds.
Consistently reports zero liabilities, suggesting sound financial management and no reliance on debt.
Positive net income in recent years (2023 and 2022), indicating current operational sustainability.
Spending Breakdown
How Ankeny Community Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ankeny Community Foundation
Is Ankeny Community Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ankeny Community Foundation (EIN: 203850596) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Ankeny Community Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Ankeny Community Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $33K. Assets: $87K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Ankeny Community Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Ankeny Community Foundation is 203850596. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Ankeny Community Foundation spend its money?
Ankeny Community Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Ankeny Community Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Ankeny Community Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 203850596 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
The Ankeny Community Foundation demonstrates a fluctuating financial history, with revenues and expenses varying significantly over the past decade. While the organization reported a positive net income in 2023 ($77,476 revenue vs. $66,467 expenses) and 2022 ($112,346 revenue vs. $104,880 expenses), earlier years like 2015 and 2016 showed substantial deficits where expenses far exceeded revenue. The foundation consistently reports zero liabilities, indicating a healthy balance sheet in terms of debt. Transparency is strong given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s and the absence of officer compensation, which suggests a volunteer-driven leadership model.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses from the provided data. However, the consistent lack of officer compensation is a positive indicator of efficient use of funds at the leadership level. The organization's assets have also shown considerable fluctuation, peaking at $782,059 in 2014 and currently standing at $89,692 in 2023, suggesting periods of significant asset utilization or distribution.
Overall, the Ankeny Community Foundation appears to be a transparent organization with a history of managing its finances without incurring debt. Its financial health, while currently stable, has experienced periods of significant change in revenue and asset levels, which warrants closer examination of its long-term sustainability and funding strategies.