Quick charity verification for Lake County Community Foundation (EIN: 203654399)
Verdict: Lake County Community Foundation appears trustworthy
92/100Mission Score
$13.3MRevenue
$26.9MAssets
0Red Flags
5Strengths
No red flags identified.
Strengths
Consistent and significant asset growth, from $10,020,657 in 2014 to $26,906,757 currently.
0% reported officer compensation across all 13 IRS 990 filings, indicating high efficiency and dedication of funds to mission.
Revenue consistently exceeds expenses, allowing for strong financial reserves and program capacity.
Strong financial stability with a healthy asset-to-liability ratio, for example, $20,485,729 in assets vs $249,292 in liabilities in 2023.
Demonstrated ability to attract substantial funding, with latest revenue at $13,272,437.
Spending Breakdown
How Lake County Community Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
7%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
3%
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 Lake County Community Foundation
Is Lake County Community Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lake County Community Foundation (EIN: 203654399) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 92/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Lake County Community Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Lake County Community Foundation has a Mission Score of 92/100. Revenue: $13.3M. Assets: $26.9M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Lake County Community Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lake County Community Foundation is 203654399. 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 Lake County Community Foundation spend its money?
Lake County Community Foundation allocates 90% to programs, 7% to administration, and 3% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Lake County Community Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Lake County Community Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 203654399 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
Lake County Community Foundation demonstrates strong financial health and a commitment to its mission, as evidenced by its consistent growth in assets and revenue over the past decade. The organization's latest revenue of $13,272,437 and assets of $26,906,757 indicate a robust financial position. A key strength is the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting a volunteer-led or highly efficient executive structure, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence and resource allocation directly to programs. The foundation's expenses have generally been well below its revenue, allowing for significant asset accumulation, which provides long-term stability and capacity for future initiatives.
While specific program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the overall financial picture suggests efficient operations given the substantial growth in assets relative to expenses. The consistent increase in assets from $10,020,657 in 2014 to $26,906,757 currently, alongside fluctuating but generally increasing revenues, points to effective financial management and fundraising efforts. The absence of reported officer compensation is a significant positive for transparency and efficiency, indicating that a very high proportion of funds are likely directed towards the foundation's charitable purpose.
To further enhance transparency, a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses would be beneficial for donors to fully understand how every dollar is spent. However, based on the available data, the foundation appears to be a well-managed entity with a strong financial foundation and a clear dedication to its mission, supported by its impressive asset growth and minimal reported overhead in executive compensation.