Is Earth Stewardship Foundation Legit? —…

Quick charity verification for Earth Stewardship Foundation (EIN: 206511102)

Red Flags

Consistent operating deficits, with expenses regularly exceeding revenue (e.g., $224,636 expenses vs. $145,390 revenue in 2023).
Significant and volatile liabilities, reaching over $5 million in some years.
Steady decline in total assets over the past decade, from $6.3 million to $5.3 million.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering efficiency assessment.

Spending Breakdown

How Earth Stewardship Foundation 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 Earth Stewardship Foundation

Is Earth Stewardship Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Earth Stewardship Foundation (EIN: 206511102) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 45/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.

Is Earth Stewardship Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Earth Stewardship Foundation has a Mission Score of 45/100. Revenue: $159K. Assets: $5.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Earth Stewardship Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Earth Stewardship Foundation is 206511102. 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 Earth Stewardship Foundation spend its money?

Earth Stewardship Foundation allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Earth Stewardship Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Earth Stewardship Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 206511102 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 Earth Stewardship Foundation exhibits a concerning trend of consistent operating deficits, with expenses regularly exceeding revenue. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $224,636 against revenues of $145,390, and this pattern is visible across most reported periods. While the organization holds substantial assets of $5,389,888, a significant portion of these are offset by liabilities, which were $2,750,604 in 2023. The lack of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure, which can be a positive for efficiency, but the overall financial sustainability is questionable given the persistent revenue shortfall. The NTEE code C30 indicates a focus on environmental protection and conservation, but without a breakdown of program vs. administrative spending, it's difficult to assess spending efficiency directly from the provided data.

The organization's financial health appears to be in a precarious state due to its inability to cover annual expenses with its revenue. This has led to a gradual decline in assets over the years, from $6,302,938 in 2011 to $5,389,888 currently. The high and fluctuating liabilities also warrant closer inspection, particularly the jump to over $5 million in 2019 and 2015, which then decreased significantly in subsequent years before rising again in 2023. This volatility in liabilities, coupled with consistent operating losses, suggests potential reliance on asset drawdowns or other non-revenue funding mechanisms to sustain operations, which is not a long-term sustainable model. Transparency regarding the nature of these liabilities and the specific allocation of expenses would be beneficial for a more complete assessment.

Is Earth Stewardship Foundation Legit?

Verdict: Earth Stewardship Foundation shows mixed signals