Quick charity verification for Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc (EIN: 202629290)
Verdict: Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$5.2MRevenue
$16.5MAssets
3Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant revenue volatility, including negative revenue of $-189,676 in 202308.
Expenses frequently exceed revenue in recent periods (e.g., 202308 expenses of $1,498,722 against negative revenue; 202208 expenses of $1,378,501 against revenue of $706,254).
Decline in assets from a peak of $24,165,350 in 202008 to $19,604,858 in 202308.
Strengths
Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
Maintains extremely low liabilities ($1 across all filings), demonstrating strong financial health regarding debt.
Significant and growing asset base over the long term, providing financial stability and capacity.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), indicating consistent transparency.
Spending Breakdown
How Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc
Is Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc (EIN: 202629290) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?
Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $5.2M. Assets: $16.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc is 202629290. 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 Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc spend its money?
Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 202629290 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 Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc. exhibits a mixed financial picture. While the organization consistently reports minimal liabilities ($1 across all filings), indicating strong financial stability in terms of debt, its revenue has been highly volatile, including a significant negative revenue of $-189,676 in the 202308 period. This volatility, coupled with expenses often exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., 202308 expenses of $1,498,722 against negative revenue), suggests reliance on its substantial asset base, which stood at $19,604,858 in 202308. The foundation's assets have generally grown over the long term, from $7,689,776 in 201108 to $19,604,858 in 202308, but have seen a decline from a peak of $24,165,350 in 202008.
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 across all periods is a strong indicator of efficient use of funds at the executive level and suggests a volunteer-driven or very lean leadership structure. The foundation's consistent and minimal liabilities also point to sound financial management regarding debt.
Transparency is generally good given the availability of 10 years of IRS 990 filings. The consistent reporting of key financial metrics allows for a historical analysis of its financial trends. The absence of officer compensation is a positive transparency signal, indicating that executive pay is not a drain on resources. However, without a detailed functional expense breakdown, it's challenging to fully evaluate how efficiently total expenses are allocated to its mission.