Is Dancing Deer Foundation Legit?

Spending Breakdown

How Dancing Deer Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

75%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

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 Dancing Deer Foundation

Is Dancing Deer Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Dancing Deer Foundation (EIN: 202753212) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 45/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Dancing Deer Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Dancing Deer Foundation has a Mission Score of 45/100. Revenue: $407K. Assets: $1.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Dancing Deer Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Dancing Deer Foundation is 202753212. 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 Dancing Deer Foundation spend its money?

Dancing Deer Foundation allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Dancing Deer Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Dancing Deer Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 202753212 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 Dancing Deer Foundation exhibits a highly unusual and volatile financial history. While the latest reported revenue is $406,861 with assets of $1,673,701, a review of past IRS 990 filings reveals extreme fluctuations. For instance, the organization reported a negative revenue of $-3,563,802 in 2020 and significant expenses in prior years that often dwarfed revenue, leading to substantial asset depletion from a high of $7,883,847 in 2019 to $1,965,353 in 2023. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a volunteer-led or minimally compensated leadership structure, which can be a positive for donor funds, but the overall financial stability and operational consistency are questionable given the dramatic shifts in revenue and assets. The NTEE code T22 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations) suggests its primary activity might be grantmaking, which could explain some expense patterns, but the scale of asset reduction is concerning.

The organization's 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 pattern of expenses frequently exceeding revenue, sometimes by a large margin (e.g., 2021 expenses of $341,871 against revenue of $72,950), indicates a reliance on existing assets or other funding sources not immediately apparent. The lack of officer compensation is a strong point for transparency regarding executive pay. However, the overall financial narrative, marked by significant asset drawdowns and erratic revenue, raises questions about long-term sustainability and the consistent impact of its programs. Further detailed analysis of their functional expense statements would be crucial to understand their spending efficiency.

Verdict: Dancing Deer Foundation shows mixed signals

Red Flags

Strengths