Is Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation Legit?
Quick charity verification for Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation (EIN: 202790169)
Verdict: Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$1.2MRevenue
$2.5MAssets
1Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent decline in asset base over the past decade, indicating a spend-down strategy without sufficient new capital infusion to maintain or grow assets.
Strengths
Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating highly efficient or volunteer-led governance.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history, demonstrating good transparency and compliance.
Stable and minimal liabilities ($1 across all periods), suggesting strong financial management and no significant debt.
Substantial asset base ($2,090,114 in 2023) for a private foundation, allowing for continued grantmaking.
Spending Breakdown
How Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation 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 Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation
Is Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation (EIN: 202790169) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $1.2M. Assets: $2.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation is 202790169. 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 Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation spend its money?
Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 202790169 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 Karl And Mildred Niekamp Charitable Foundation appears to be a private foundation primarily focused on grantmaking, as indicated by its NTEE code T22 (Private Grantmaking Foundations). Over the past decade, the foundation has consistently operated with expenses exceeding its revenue, drawing down its asset base from $2,707,734 in 2011 to $2,090,114 in 2023. This trend suggests a strategy of distributing more than its annual income, which is common for foundations with a finite lifespan or specific spending goals. The foundation reports zero officer compensation across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led or externally managed structure, which contributes to low administrative overhead.
While the specific breakdown of program versus administrative spending isn't explicitly detailed in the provided summary, the absence of officer compensation implies a lean operational model. The consistent liabilities of $1 across all periods suggest minimal operational debt and a stable financial structure. The foundation's transparency is good given the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, which are publicly accessible documents detailing its financial activities and governance.
Overall, the foundation demonstrates financial stability with substantial assets, a clear pattern of grantmaking (expenses exceeding revenue), and a commitment to minimizing executive compensation. Its long-term asset decline warrants monitoring, but it aligns with a spend-down strategy often seen in private foundations.