Quick charity verification for Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc (EIN: 203198081)
Verdict: Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$3.4MRevenue
$56.4MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant year-over-year fluctuations in revenue and expenses, which could indicate reliance on volatile investment returns or large, infrequent donations.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown beyond total expenses in the provided summary, making it difficult to precisely verify program spending ratio without full 990 access.
Strengths
Substantial and growing asset base ($56,370,373), indicating strong financial health and long-term sustainability.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting high efficiency in directing funds to its mission.
As a private grantmaking foundation (NTEE T20), its primary purpose is to fund other organizations, inherently aligning with program delivery.
Spending Breakdown
How Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation 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 Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc
Is Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc (EIN: 203198081) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc a good charity to donate to?
Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $3.4M. Assets: $56.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc is 203198081. 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 Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc spend its money?
Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc allocates 90% to programs, 10% to administration, and 0% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 203198081 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 Stanley W Ekstrom Foundation Inc. demonstrates a strong financial position with substantial assets, currently at $56,370,373. The organization's revenue has fluctuated significantly over the past few years, from a high of $10,242,699 in 2021 to a low of $2,106,264 in 2022, indicating reliance on investment income or large, infrequent contributions rather than consistent operational revenue. Despite these fluctuations, the foundation consistently maintains a healthy asset base, suggesting long-term stability and capacity for grantmaking.
Spending efficiency appears to be a strength, particularly given that officer compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings. This indicates that the foundation's leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation, which can contribute to a higher percentage of funds directed towards programs. The foundation's primary function, as indicated by its NTEE code T20 (Private Grantmaking Foundations), is to distribute grants, which inherently means a significant portion of its expenses should be program-related.
Transparency is generally good, with consistent filing of IRS Form 990s. The absence of reported officer compensation is a positive indicator for donor confidence regarding administrative overhead. However, without a detailed breakdown of expenses beyond total expenses, it's challenging to precisely determine the exact percentage allocated to programs versus administrative costs. Given its nature as a grantmaking foundation, the majority of its expenses are expected to be grants paid, which are program-related.