Quick charity verification for Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation (EIN: 204480084)
Verdict: Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation appears trustworthy
80/100Mission Score
$3.1MRevenue
$510KAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% reported officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further investigation into how leadership is compensated or structured.
Fluctuating revenue and expenses, with several years (e.g., 2022, 2020, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) showing expenses exceeding revenue, indicating periods of deficit spending.
Strengths
Strong recent financial performance, with 2023 revenue ($2,109,752) significantly exceeding expenses ($1,889,083), leading to asset growth.
Minimal liabilities consistently reported ($0 or $1), indicating strong financial stability and low debt burden.
Consistent IRS 990 filing history (10 filings), demonstrating a commitment to transparency and compliance.
Significant asset growth from $181,616 in 2022 to $402,285 in 2023, reflecting improved financial health.
Spending Breakdown
How Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
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 Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation
Is Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation (EIN: 204480084) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $3.1M. Assets: $510K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation is 204480084. 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 Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation spend its money?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 204480084 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
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation demonstrates a fluctuating but generally positive financial trajectory, with its latest reported revenue at $3,128,798 and assets at $510,298. The organization has shown significant revenue growth in its most recent filing period (202312), with revenue of $2,109,752 exceeding expenses of $1,889,083, leading to an increase in assets from $181,616 in 2022 to $402,285 in 2023. This indicates effective financial management in the short term, reversing a trend of expenses exceeding revenue in several prior years, such as 2022 and 2020.
The foundation's spending efficiency appears to be improving, as evidenced by the positive net income in the latest period. While specific breakdowns of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses are not provided in the summary data, the consistent reporting of zero officer compensation across all available filings suggests a commitment to minimizing overhead in that area. The organization's liabilities have consistently been reported as minimal ($0 or $1), indicating strong financial stability and low debt burden. The NTEE code T20 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations) suggests its primary function is grantmaking, which typically involves a high percentage of program spending.
In terms of transparency, the organization has a consistent filing history with 10 filings available, which is a positive indicator. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable point, suggesting either a volunteer-led executive structure or compensation being reported under other expense categories, which would warrant further investigation for complete transparency. Overall, the foundation appears to be on a sound financial footing with recent growth and minimal liabilities, though a detailed breakdown of functional expenses would provide a clearer picture of spending efficiency.