Quick charity verification for Lakeside Christian Academy Inc (EIN: 202918958)
Verdict: Lakeside Christian Academy Inc appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$1.7MRevenue
$2.6MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and revenue, potentially indicating incomplete disclosure.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary makes a precise efficiency assessment difficult.
Strengths
Consistent and significant revenue growth over the past decade, from $770,830 in 2015 to $1,521,139 in 2024.
Steady increase in assets, indicating financial stability and growth, from $1,381,227 in 2015 to $2,406,997 in 2024.
Regularly operates with a surplus, with revenues generally exceeding expenses (e.g., $1,521,139 revenue vs. $1,424,601 expenses in 2024).
Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 14 periods, demonstrating a commitment to regulatory compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How Lakeside Christian Academy Inc 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 Lakeside Christian Academy Inc
Is Lakeside Christian Academy Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lakeside Christian Academy Inc (EIN: 202918958) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Lakeside Christian Academy Inc a good charity to donate to?
Lakeside Christian Academy Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $1.7M. Assets: $2.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Lakeside Christian Academy Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lakeside Christian Academy Inc is 202918958. 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 Lakeside Christian Academy Inc spend its money?
Lakeside Christian Academy Inc allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Lakeside Christian Academy Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Lakeside Christian Academy Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 202918958 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
Lakeside Christian Academy Inc demonstrates consistent financial growth and appears to be in a healthy financial position. Over the past decade, the organization's revenue has steadily increased from $770,830 in 2015 to $1,521,139 in 2024, indicating strong operational sustainability. Their assets have also grown significantly, from $1,381,227 to $2,406,997 over the same period, suggesting prudent financial management and investment in their mission. The organization consistently operates with a surplus, as evidenced by revenues exceeding expenses in most recent years, such as $1,521,139 in revenue against $1,424,601 in expenses in 2024.
Regarding spending efficiency, the provided data indicates that 100% of officer compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and revenue. This suggests that either executive compensation is not being reported in this section, or the organization relies entirely on volunteer leadership, which would be exceptional. Without a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, a precise assessment of spending efficiency is challenging. However, the consistent operational surpluses suggest that overall expenses are well-managed relative to income.
In terms of transparency, the consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 14 periods is a positive indicator. However, the lack of reported officer compensation raises questions about the completeness of the financial disclosures, particularly concerning how leadership is compensated or if they are entirely volunteer-based. Further investigation into the detailed expense breakdown within the 990s would be necessary to fully assess spending efficiency and the allocation of funds towards programs versus overhead.