Is Lakehurst Foundation Legit?

Red Flags

Highly volatile revenue streams, making financial planning and stability uncertain (e.g., $1.45M in 2021 to $10K in 2022).
Consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across multiple years, which is unusual and may indicate incomplete reporting or a specific accounting practice.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.

Spending Breakdown

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

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

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 Lakehurst Foundation

Is Lakehurst Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lakehurst Foundation (EIN: 201398995) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Lakehurst Foundation a good charity to donate to?

Lakehurst Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $2.6M. Assets: $6.0M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Lakehurst Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lakehurst Foundation is 201398995. 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 Lakehurst Foundation spend its money?

Lakehurst Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

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

You can verify Lakehurst Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 201398995 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 Lakehurst Foundation exhibits inconsistent financial activity, with revenue fluctuating significantly over the past decade. For instance, revenue dropped from $1,915,806 in 2019 to $782,996 in 2020, then surged to $1,453,548 in 2021, only to plummet to $10,239 in 2022 and $209,847 in 2023. This volatility makes it challenging to assess long-term financial stability. Despite these fluctuations, the organization consistently reports minimal liabilities ($1 in most recent filings), indicating a strong balance sheet relative to its assets, which have grown from $1,812,091 in 2011 to $5,694,761 in 2023. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure, which can be a positive indicator of efficiency and donor trust, though it warrants further investigation into how leadership is compensated, if at all, or if these are truly unpaid roles. The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully ascertain without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, but the overall expense levels are generally lower than revenue in most profitable years, allowing for asset growth.

Verdict: Lakehurst Foundation appears trustworthy