Carstens Educational Fund

Carstens Educational Fund maintains substantial assets and low expenses, with no officer compensation reported.

EIN: 207113069 · Cherokee, IA · NTEE: B82 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$34KRevenue

$895KAssets

85/100Mission Score (Excellent)

B82

About Carstens Educational Fund

Carstens Educational Fund (EIN: 207113069) is a nonprofit organization based in Cherokee, IA, classified under NTEE code B82. The organization reported total revenue of $34K and total assets of $895K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Carstens Educational Fund's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

The Carstens Educational Fund demonstrates consistent financial stability with a strong asset base relative to its annual revenue. In 2023, the organization reported $811,660 in assets against $35,077 in revenue, indicating a well-endowed fund. Spending efficiency appears high, particularly in recent years, with expenses significantly lower than revenue in 2023 ($6,840 expenses vs. $35,077 revenue) and 2020 ($5,637 expenses vs. $28,570 revenue). This suggests a focus on accumulating assets or a very lean operational model. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a strong indicator of transparency and a commitment to directing funds towards its mission rather than executive salaries. However, the specific breakdown of program versus administrative spending is not detailed in the provided summary, making a precise assessment of program efficiency challenging without further data. The significant fluctuations in expenses, such as $85,856 in 2021 compared to $6,840 in 2023, warrant further investigation to understand the nature of these expenditures and their alignment with the organization's educational mission.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Carstens Educational Fund with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.

Spending Breakdown

admin: 10%
programs: 85%
fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Carstens Educational Fund allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The Carstens Educational Fund consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all provided filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers, which is a strong positive for financial transparency and resource allocation.

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 Carstens Educational Fund's IRS 990 filings:

Significant year-over-year expense fluctuations without clear explanation in summary data (e.g., $85,856 in 2021 vs. $6,840 in 2023).

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Carstens Educational Fund:

Consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating strong commitment to mission over executive pay.
Maintains a substantial asset base ($895,046) relative to its annual revenue, suggesting long-term financial stability.
Demonstrates very low expense ratios in multiple years (e.g., $6,840 expenses on $35,077 revenue in 2023), indicating efficient operations.
Consistent revenue generation over the years, showing a stable funding stream.

Frequently Asked Questions about Carstens Educational Fund

Is Carstens Educational Fund a good charity?

Based on the provided data, Carstens Educational Fund appears to be a financially sound organization with a strong asset base ($895,046) and a commitment to not paying officer compensation. Its low expense ratios in many years suggest efficient operations. However, without detailed program spending information, it's difficult to fully assess its direct impact.

What caused the significant expense fluctuations, such as $85,856 in 2021 versus $6,840 in 2023?

The provided data does not specify the nature of these expenses. Such large fluctuations could indicate periodic large grants, capital expenditures, or unusual operational costs in certain years. Further investigation into the detailed 990 forms would be needed to understand these variations.

How does the organization utilize its substantial assets of $895,046?

The data indicates a significant asset base. Given the organization's educational mission, these assets are likely held as an endowment to generate investment income for future grants or educational support. The low annual expenses suggest that only a portion of the investment income or principal is disbursed annually.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Carstens Educational Fund showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Carstens Educational Fund's revenue has grown by 99.4%, moving from $18K to $35K. Total assets increased by 70.8% over the same period, from $475K to $812K. Total functional expenses rose by 75.5%, from $4K to $7K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Carstens Educational Fund reported a surplus of $28K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $6K in liabilities against $812K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.8%), resulting in net assets of $806K.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$35K	$7K	$812K	$6K	—	—
2022	$25K	$62K	$844K	$38K	—	—
2021	$24K	$86K	$888K	$77K	—	—
2020	$29K	$6K	$786K	$137K	—	—
2019	$27K	$6K	$872K	$115K	—	View 990
2015	$28K	$30K	$488K	$34K	—	View 990
2014	$27K	$36K	$497K	$59K	—	View 990
2013	$27K	$22K	$522K	$90K	—	View 990
2012	$26K	$4K	$495K	$80K	—	View 990
2011	$18K	$4K	$475K	$59K	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $35K, expenses of $7K, and assets of $812K (revenue +40.8% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $25K, expenses of $62K, and assets of $844K (revenue +4.6% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $24K, expenses of $86K, and assets of $888K (revenue -16.6% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $29K, expenses of $6K, and assets of $786K (revenue +4.3% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $27K, expenses of $6K, and assets of $872K (revenue -1.8% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $28K, expenses of $30K, and assets of $488K (revenue +2.7% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $27K, expenses of $36K, and assets of $497K (revenue +0.4% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $27K, expenses of $22K, and assets of $522K (revenue +4.7% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $26K, expenses of $4K, and assets of $495K (revenue +47.0% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $18K, expenses of $4K, and assets of $475K.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Carstens Educational Fund 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.