Quick charity verification for The Lutheran Care Network Inc (EIN: 112896230)
Verdict: The Lutheran Care Network Inc shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$1.9MRevenue
$3.4MAssets
4Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Significant and consistent decline in total assets over the past decade, from $9.97M in 2016 to $3.6M in 2023.
Periods of substantial expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 2019: $5.5M expenses vs $2.9M revenue; 2017: $7.49M expenses vs $2.68M revenue), indicating potential operational losses or reliance on reserves.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and may obscure true leadership costs.
Fluctuating revenue streams, making financial planning and stability potentially challenging.
Strengths
Consistent filing of IRS 990s, demonstrating regulatory compliance and basic transparency.
Recent filings (2022, 2023) show improved expense management with expenses at or below revenue, indicating better financial control.
Positive net assets maintained despite fluctuations, suggesting the organization has not become insolvent.
No reported officer compensation could indicate a strong volunteer leadership component or highly efficient administrative structure.
Spending Breakdown
How The Lutheran Care Network Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
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 The Lutheran Care Network Inc
Is The Lutheran Care Network Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Lutheran Care Network Inc (EIN: 112896230) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is The Lutheran Care Network Inc a good charity to donate to?
The Lutheran Care Network Inc has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $1.9M. Assets: $3.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Lutheran Care Network Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Lutheran Care Network Inc is 112896230. 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 Lutheran Care Network Inc spend its money?
The Lutheran Care Network Inc allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Lutheran Care Network Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Lutheran Care Network Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 112896230 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 Lutheran Care Network Inc demonstrates a mixed financial picture. While the organization has generally maintained positive net assets, there have been periods of significant expense exceeding revenue, such as in 2021 ($3.9M expenses vs $2.2M revenue) and 2019 ($5.5M expenses vs $2.9M revenue), indicating reliance on reserves or other funding sources during those years. More recently, the organization has shown better financial management, with expenses closely aligned with or below revenue in 2023 ($1.84M expenses vs $1.87M revenue) and 2022 ($1.74M expenses vs $3.29M revenue). The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a commitment to minimizing administrative overhead in this area, which is a positive indicator of transparency and efficiency. However, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, a complete assessment of spending efficiency is challenging.
The organization's assets have shown a declining trend over the past decade, from a high of nearly $10 million in 2016 to $3.6 million in 2023. This reduction in asset base, coupled with fluctuating liabilities, warrants further investigation to understand the underlying causes and long-term implications for the organization's sustainability. The significant drop in assets from $7.09M in 2018 to $5.4M in 2019, and then again from $4.87M in 2021 to $3.97M in 2022, suggests potential divestments or significant operational losses in those periods. Despite these fluctuations, the organization has consistently filed its IRS 990s, indicating a commitment to regulatory compliance and basic financial transparency.