Is Hastings Foundation Tr Legit?

Red Flags

Significant revenue volatility year-over-year (e.g., $898k in 2022 to $5.3M in 2023), which could indicate reliance on unpredictable income streams.
Lack of detailed spending breakdown on 990s makes it difficult to precisely assess program efficiency.
No reported officer compensation, which, while potentially positive, could also obscure how leadership is compensated if not volunteer.

Strengths

Strong and growing asset base, reaching $26,962,945 in 2023, indicating excellent financial stability.
Minimal liabilities (consistently $0 or $1), demonstrating sound financial management and low debt.
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating good regulatory compliance and transparency.
Stable expense levels despite revenue fluctuations, suggesting controlled operational costs.

Spending Breakdown

How Hastings Foundation Tr allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Hastings Foundation Tr

Is Hastings Foundation Tr a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Hastings Foundation Tr (EIN: 136060454) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is Hastings Foundation Tr a good charity to donate to?

Hastings Foundation Tr has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $3.9M. Assets: $26.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Hastings Foundation Tr?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Hastings Foundation Tr is 136060454. 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 Hastings Foundation Tr spend its money?

Hastings Foundation Tr allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Hastings Foundation Tr's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Hastings Foundation Tr's tax-exempt status using EIN 136060454 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 Hastings Foundation Tr demonstrates strong financial health with substantial assets, consistently above $22 million over the past decade, reaching $26,962,945 in 2023. The organization's revenue has shown significant fluctuation, from a low of $434,253 in 2019 to a high of $5,353,815 in 2023, indicating reliance on variable income streams, potentially investment returns given its foundation status. Expenses have remained relatively stable, averaging around $1.5 million annually, which suggests consistent operational costs despite revenue volatility. The foundation's liabilities are minimal, consistently reported as $0 or $1, indicating excellent financial stability and low debt risk.

Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to provide a precise assessment. However, as a foundation (NTEE T20), its primary function is often grant-making, which would typically fall under program expenses. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led board or compensation is embedded within other expense categories, which could impact transparency if not clearly disclosed elsewhere. The significant difference between revenue and expenses in some years (e.g., $5.3M revenue vs. $1.7M expenses in 2023) indicates substantial accumulation of assets, which is typical for a foundation building its endowment.

Transparency is generally good given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s. The lack of reported officer compensation is a notable point; while it could indicate a volunteer board, for an organization with assets nearing $27 million, further clarity on how leadership is compensated or structured would enhance transparency. The consistent low liabilities are a positive indicator of sound financial management.

Verdict: Hastings Foundation Tr appears trustworthy