Quick charity verification for Emanuel Lutheran Church (EIN: 216016284)
Verdict: Emanuel Lutheran Church appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$223KRevenue
$425KAssets
2Red Flags
5Strengths
Red Flags
NTEE code is unknown, limiting external categorization and comparison.
990-EZ filings provide less detailed financial breakdown compared to full 990 forms, making in-depth analysis of program vs. administrative spending challenging.
Strengths
Consistent financial surplus in most years, contributing to asset growth.
Very low liabilities, consistently under $500, indicating strong financial management and minimal debt.
0% officer compensation reported across all filings, suggesting highly efficient use of funds and potentially volunteer leadership.
Healthy asset base relative to annual revenue, providing financial stability and resilience.
Consistent filing of IRS 990-EZ forms, demonstrating basic transparency.
Spending Breakdown
How Emanuel Lutheran Church allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
0%
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 Emanuel Lutheran Church
Is Emanuel Lutheran Church a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Emanuel Lutheran Church (EIN: 216016284) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Emanuel Lutheran Church a good charity to donate to?
Emanuel Lutheran Church has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $223K. Assets: $425K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Emanuel Lutheran Church?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Emanuel Lutheran Church is 216016284. 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 Emanuel Lutheran Church spend its money?
Emanuel Lutheran Church allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Emanuel Lutheran Church's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Emanuel Lutheran Church's tax-exempt status using EIN 216016284 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
Emanuel Lutheran Church demonstrates consistent financial stability with a healthy asset base relative to its annual revenue. In the latest filing (202312), the organization reported revenue of $221,029 against expenses of $172,712, indicating a surplus that contributes to its growing assets, which reached $443,764. This trend of managing expenses below revenue is generally positive, as seen in most of its recent filings, with the exception of 202212 where expenses slightly exceeded revenue. The organization's liabilities remain very low, consistently under $500, which is a strong indicator of financial health and minimal debt burden.
Spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given the 0% officer compensation reported across all available filings, suggesting that leadership is either volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation on the 990-EZ. This contributes to a higher proportion of funds likely being directed towards its programmatic activities. Without a detailed breakdown of expenses beyond the 990-EZ summary, it's challenging to precisely determine the exact program spending ratio, but the absence of executive compensation is a positive sign for efficiency.
Transparency is generally good through its consistent 990-EZ filings. However, as a church, it is exempt from certain detailed reporting requirements that larger nonprofits face, such as Schedule J for compensation details or Schedule A for public support test. The NTEE code being 'Unknown' also limits external categorization and comparison. Despite these inherent limitations for religious organizations, the consistent filing of 990-EZ forms provides basic financial oversight.