Quick charity verification for Spirit For Life Foundation (EIN: 208034787)
Verdict: Spirit For Life Foundation shows mixed signals
45/100Mission Score
$944KRevenue
$1.3MAssets
4Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent operational deficits over multiple years (e.g., 2023: Revenue $66,508, Expenses $127,261).
Declining asset base from $1,577,679 in 2012 to $1,127,785 in 2023.
Unusual and consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across all filings.
Revenue has been highly volatile and often negative in earlier years (e.g., 2013: $-15,284, 2012: $-51,739).
Strengths
No reported officer compensation, suggesting potential volunteer leadership.
Maintains a substantial asset base, despite recent declines, providing some financial cushion ($1,127,785 in 2023).
Spending Breakdown
How Spirit For Life Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
60%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
30%
Admin Costs
High — over 25% on administration
10%
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 Spirit For Life Foundation
Is Spirit For Life Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Spirit For Life Foundation (EIN: 208034787) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 45/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Spirit For Life Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Spirit For Life Foundation has a Mission Score of 45/100. Revenue: $944K. Assets: $1.3M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Spirit For Life Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Spirit For Life Foundation is 208034787. 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 Spirit For Life Foundation spend its money?
Spirit For Life Foundation allocates 60% to programs, 30% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Spirit For Life Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Spirit For Life Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 208034787 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
Spirit For Life Foundation exhibits a concerning financial trend, consistently spending more than it generates in revenue over multiple years. For instance, in fiscal year 2023, the organization reported revenues of $66,508 against expenses of $127,261, indicating a significant deficit. This pattern of operating at a loss is evident across most of its filing history, with only a few exceptions like 2014 and 2020 where revenue slightly exceeded expenses. While the organization maintains substantial assets, reported at $1,127,785 in 2023, these assets have been steadily declining from a high of $1,577,679 in 2012, suggesting that the organization may be drawing down its reserves to cover operational shortfalls. The consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across all filings is unusual and warrants further investigation to understand the true financial obligations.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which is not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent operational deficits raise questions about the sustainability of its current financial model. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, which could impact transparency. Given the consistent revenue shortfalls and declining asset base, the long-term financial health appears precarious.
In terms of transparency, the consistent $1 liability figure across all filings is a notable anomaly that could obscure the organization's true financial picture. While the organization files its IRS 990s, the lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data limits a comprehensive assessment of how funds are allocated. The absence of officer compensation is a positive indicator for donor confidence if indeed the leadership is unpaid, but if compensation is simply reclassified, it could be a transparency concern.