Is George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation Legit?
Quick charity verification for George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation (EIN: 208027858)
Verdict: George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation appears trustworthy
80/100Mission Score
$2.1MRevenue
$2.0MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Expenses consistently exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., 2023: $178,401 expenses vs. $51,611 revenue), potentially drawing down on assets if not offset by unrealized gains.
Strengths
Stable asset base consistently around $2 million over the past decade, indicating financial resilience.
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting efficient executive-level cost management.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history, demonstrating good transparency.
Low liabilities ($1 in recent years), indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Spending Breakdown
How George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation
Is George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation (EIN: 208027858) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation a good charity to donate to?
George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $2.1M. Assets: $2.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation is 208027858. 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 George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation spend its money?
George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 15% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 208027858 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 George & Marion Buerkel Oscar & Ella Zoellner Foundation appears to be a private foundation, as indicated by its consistent asset base and fluctuating revenue primarily from investment income rather than public contributions. Its financial health is stable, with assets consistently around $2 million over the past decade, despite recent years showing expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., $178,401 in expenses vs. $51,611 in revenue in 2023). This suggests it operates by drawing down on its endowment or investment gains from prior periods, which is typical for foundations. The organization demonstrates strong transparency by consistently filing its IRS Form 990s, which are publicly available.
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 absence of officer compensation (0% reported across all filings) suggests a lean operational structure at the executive level. The foundation's primary function is likely grant-making, and its efficiency would be better judged by the impact of its grants relative to its operational overhead. Given the NTEE code B82 (Foundations), its 'program' spending would largely be its grants distributed.
Overall, the foundation exhibits financial stability through its asset base and good transparency through its consistent filings. Its operational model, characterized by investment income and grant-making, is typical for a private foundation. The lack of officer compensation is a positive indicator of cost control at the top.