Quick charity verification for The Good Shepherd Fund (EIN: 200017143)
Verdict: The Good Shepherd Fund appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$6.5MRevenue
$9.8MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Significant year-over-year revenue volatility, making financial planning challenging.
Multiple years where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 2022: $622,372 expenses vs. $532,693 revenue), indicating reliance on reserves or prior period surpluses.
Maintains a substantial and growing asset base, providing long-term financial stability (e.g., $9,764,427 in current assets).
Long history of IRS 990 filings (10 filings), suggesting transparency and compliance.
Spending Breakdown
How The Good Shepherd Fund allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
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 The Good Shepherd Fund
Is The Good Shepherd Fund a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Good Shepherd Fund (EIN: 200017143) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is The Good Shepherd Fund a good charity to donate to?
The Good Shepherd Fund has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $6.5M. Assets: $9.8M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Good Shepherd Fund?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Good Shepherd Fund is 200017143. 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 The Good Shepherd Fund spend its money?
The Good Shepherd Fund allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Good Shepherd Fund's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Good Shepherd Fund's tax-exempt status using EIN 200017143 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 Good Shepherd Fund demonstrates a generally stable financial position with assets consistently in the multi-million dollar range, peaking at $9,764,427. However, there's a notable inconsistency in revenue generation, with significant fluctuations year-over-year, such as $4,343,494 in 2012 and $799,305 in 2023. This volatility, combined with several years where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 2022 with $622,372 expenses vs. $532,693 revenue), suggests a reliance on accumulated assets or unpredictable large donations rather than consistent operational income. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence regarding executive pay. While the provided data lacks a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, the overall financial health appears to be sustained by its substantial asset base, despite the fluctuating operational performance.