Quick charity verification for Cornerstone Christian Academy (EIN: 205342695)
Verdict: Cornerstone Christian Academy has notable concerns
30/100Mission Score
$0Revenue
$0Assets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Zero reported revenue and assets in the latest filing, indicating potential cessation of operations.
Consistent trend of expenses exceeding revenue in recent active years (e.g., 2017, 2018), suggesting financial instability.
Significant decline in revenue from $441,346 in 2015 to $58,906 in 2018, preceding the $0 report.
Lack of detailed spending breakdown (program vs. admin vs. fundraising) in the provided summary data, hindering efficiency assessment.
Strengths
History of filing IRS Form 990s, indicating compliance with reporting requirements during its active years.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a volunteer-driven leadership structure or very low executive costs.
Maintained a stable asset base (around $300,000-$340,000) for several years (2013-2017) before the recent decline.
Spending Breakdown
How Cornerstone Christian Academy allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
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 Cornerstone Christian Academy
Is Cornerstone Christian Academy a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cornerstone Christian Academy (EIN: 205342695) has notable concerns. Mission Score: 30/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Cornerstone Christian Academy a good charity to donate to?
Cornerstone Christian Academy has a Mission Score of 30/100. Revenue: $0. Assets: $0. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Cornerstone Christian Academy?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Cornerstone Christian Academy is 205342695. 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 Cornerstone Christian Academy spend its money?
Cornerstone Christian Academy allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Cornerstone Christian Academy's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Cornerstone Christian Academy's tax-exempt status using EIN 205342695 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
Cornerstone Christian Academy's financial health shows a concerning trend of declining revenue and increasing expenses in recent years, culminating in zero reported revenue and assets in the latest period. While the organization previously maintained a stable asset base, with assets around $300,000-$340,000 from 2013-2017, the sudden drop to $0 in the latest filing (after reporting $279,094 in 2018) raises significant questions about its operational status and financial viability. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure, which can be a positive for efficiency, but the overall financial picture is highly unstable.
Spending efficiency is difficult to assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent pattern of expenses often exceeding revenue, particularly in 2017 and 2018, indicates a potential struggle with financial management or a reliance on reserves that have now been depleted. The lack of any reported financial activity in the latest period (Revenue=$0, Assets=$0) suggests the organization may no longer be actively operating or has undergone a significant restructuring.
Transparency is moderate based on the provided data. The organization has a history of filing IRS Form 990s, which is a positive indicator of compliance. However, the abrupt change to zero revenue and assets without further context in the provided data creates a transparency gap regarding the organization's current status and the reasons for this dramatic shift. A deeper dive into the full 990 forms would be necessary to understand the specifics of their spending and the circumstances leading to their current financial state.