Is The Lampert Foundation Legit?

Spending Breakdown

How The Lampert Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

15%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

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 Lampert Foundation

Is The Lampert Foundation a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Lampert Foundation (EIN: 205436006) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

Is The Lampert Foundation a good charity to donate to?

The Lampert Foundation has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $2.1M. Assets: $47.6M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for The Lampert Foundation?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Lampert Foundation is 205436006. 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 Lampert Foundation spend its money?

The Lampert Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify The Lampert Foundation's tax-exempt status?

You can verify The Lampert Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 205436006 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 Lampert Foundation, with assets of $47,595,200, demonstrates a consistent pattern of spending significantly more than its annual revenue in recent years. For example, in 2023, expenses were $3,074,557 against revenue of $1,980,942, and in 2022, expenses were $3,098,341 against revenue of $474,776. This indicates the foundation is primarily drawing from its substantial asset base to fund its operations and grants, rather than relying on annual fundraising. While this is common for private foundations, it's important to note the long-term sustainability of this model if asset growth does not keep pace with expenditures.

The organization's financial health appears stable due to its large asset base, despite the operational deficits. The consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across multiple years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2021) suggests a very low debt burden, which is a positive indicator. However, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to fully assess spending efficiency. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer board or compensation is covered by another entity, which could be a positive for efficiency if true, but warrants further investigation for full transparency.

Overall, The Lampert Foundation appears to be a well-endowed private foundation. Its transparency is good in terms of consistent filing, but a deeper dive into the functional expense breakdown would provide a clearer picture of its spending efficiency. The significant fluctuations in annual revenue, from $474,776 in 2022 to $8,234,754 in 2021 and $15,674,142 in 2014, suggest reliance on investment returns or large, infrequent contributions rather than a steady stream of public support.

Verdict: The Lampert Foundation appears trustworthy

Red Flags

Strengths