Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc. frequently spends more than it earns, with fluctuating assets and no executive compensation.
EIN: 201569453 · Sioux Falls, SD · NTEE: L112 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $103K |
| Total Expenses | $132K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $638K |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Is Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc (EIN: 201569453) is a nonprofit organization based in Sioux Falls, SD, classified under NTEE code L112. The organization reported total revenue of $103K and total assets of $608K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $95K |
| Total Expenses | $132K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-36,901 |
| Total Assets | $646K |
| Total Liabilities | $8K |
| Net Assets | $638K |
| Operating Margin | -38.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 58.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $37K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 58.7 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -37.2% | +22.0% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | +160.2% | +2297.1% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | -40.7% | -75.5% | +24.3% |
| 2020 | +8.6% | -65.6% | +14.0% |
| 2019 | -21.5% | -67.8% | +13.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $37K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, which is a positive indicator of resource allocation directly to the organization's mission rather than high salaries for leadership.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Frequent periods of expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 202306, 201806, 201606), indicating potential operational deficits.
- Declining assets in recent years, from $735,075 in 202106 to $645,953 in 202306, which could be a concern if not part of a planned strategy.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, demonstrating a commitment to minimizing administrative overhead in leadership salaries.
- Maintained a substantial asset base (over $600,000 in 202306) despite operational fluctuations, providing some financial cushion.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc
Is Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc (EIN: 201569453) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in South Dakota. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $103K. 2 red flags identified. 2 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc spend its money?
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201569453). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 70/100 (Good), Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc is above average for NTEE category L112 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc located?
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and files with the IRS under EIN 201569453. It is classified under NTEE code L112.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc have?
Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $103K in total revenue.
Is Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc. financially sustainable given its recurring net losses?
The organization has frequently reported expenses exceeding revenue, such as in 202306 ($131,991 expenses vs. $95,090 revenue). This pattern raises questions about long-term financial sustainability if not offset by prior surpluses or strategic asset management.
What are the primary program services funded by Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc.?
Without a detailed breakdown of program service expenses in the provided data, it is difficult to ascertain the specific programs or initiatives the foundation supports, beyond its NTEE code L112 (Lutheran) suggesting a religious affiliation.
Why did liabilities significantly decrease after 201806?
Liabilities were notably high from 201406 to 201806 (e.g., $677,458 in 201806) but dropped to $0 in 201906 and have remained low since. Understanding the nature of these past liabilities and their resolution would provide clearer financial context.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 144.7%, moving from $39K to $95K. Total assets increased by 282.6% over the same period, from $169K to $646K. Total functional expenses rose by 53.8%, from $86K to $132K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc reported a deficit of $37K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $8K in liabilities against $646K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.3%), resulting in net assets of $638K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $95K | $132K | $646K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $151K | $108K | $695K | $44K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $58K | $5K | $735K | $5K | — | — |
| 2020 | $98K | $18K | $591K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $90K | $53K | $519K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $115K | $166K | $458K | $677K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $90K | $85K | $479K | $646K | — | — |
| 2016 | $79K | $155K | $430K | $614K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $100K | $104K | $519K | $606K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $81K | $121K | $468K | $547K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $90K | $87K | $405K | $471K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $139K | $130K | $360K | $425K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $39K | $86K | $169K | $244K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $95K, expenses of $132K, and assets of $646K (revenue -37.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $151K, expenses of $108K, and assets of $695K (revenue +160.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $58K, expenses of $5K, and assets of $735K (revenue -40.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $98K, expenses of $18K, and assets of $591K (revenue +8.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $90K, expenses of $53K, and assets of $519K (revenue -21.5% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $115K, expenses of $166K, and assets of $458K (revenue +27.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $90K, expenses of $85K, and assets of $479K (revenue +14.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $79K, expenses of $155K, and assets of $430K (revenue -21.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $100K, expenses of $104K, and assets of $519K (revenue +23.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $81K, expenses of $121K, and assets of $468K (revenue -9.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $90K, expenses of $87K, and assets of $405K (revenue -35.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $139K, expenses of $130K, and assets of $360K (revenue +257.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $39K, expenses of $86K, and assets of $169K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Bethany Lutheran Foundation Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.