Quick charity verification for Lena Sears Child Development Center (EIN: 208941562)
Verdict: Lena Sears Child Development Center shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$1.1MRevenue
$392KAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent liabilities exceeding assets, indicating potential financial instability (e.g., $516,212 liabilities vs. $277,561 assets in 2023).
Significant year-over-year fluctuations in revenue and expenses, suggesting unpredictable financial operations (e.g., revenue dropped from $1.47M in 2020 to $0.53M in 2022).
Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, limiting transparency on spending efficiency.
Strengths
Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating a commitment to minimizing executive overhead.
History of operating for over a decade with 13 filings, demonstrating longevity.
Positive net income in several recent years (e.g., 2023 and 2021), showing capacity for profitable operations.
Spending Breakdown
How Lena Sears Child Development Center allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Lena Sears Child Development Center
Is Lena Sears Child Development Center a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lena Sears Child Development Center (EIN: 208941562) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Lena Sears Child Development Center a good charity to donate to?
Lena Sears Child Development Center has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $1.1M. Assets: $392K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Lena Sears Child Development Center?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lena Sears Child Development Center is 208941562. 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 Lena Sears Child Development Center spend its money?
Lena Sears Child Development Center allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Lena Sears Child Development Center's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Lena Sears Child Development Center's tax-exempt status using EIN 208941562 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
Lena Sears Child Development Center demonstrates inconsistent financial health over the past decade. While the organization has reported positive net income in some years, such as 2023 ($676,395 revenue vs. $642,057 expenses) and 2021 ($874,347 revenue vs. $757,439 expenses), it has also experienced significant deficits, notably in 2022 ($535,579 revenue vs. $605,275 expenses) and 2018 ($1,026,054 revenue vs. $1,234,222 expenses). A persistent concern is the high level of liabilities, consistently exceeding assets, with liabilities reaching $516,212 against assets of $277,561 in 2023. This indicates a reliance on debt or deferred obligations.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a commitment to minimizing executive overhead, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence. The fluctuating revenue and expense figures, alongside the asset-liability imbalance, suggest a need for more stable financial management and potentially a clearer strategy for building reserves.
Transparency regarding executive compensation is excellent, with 0% reported for officers. However, without a breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, a comprehensive assessment of spending efficiency and overall financial transparency is limited. The consistent deficit in assets versus liabilities is a significant area for improvement in financial stability.