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
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $34K |
| Total Expenses | $7K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $806K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
Carstens Educational Fund Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
Carstens Educational Fund is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Carstens Educational Fund in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
10 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $35K and expenses of $7K.
Revenue and Expenses
Carstens Educational Fund reported $35K in revenue and $7K in expenses, a surplus of $28K.
Executive Compensation
Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.
Charity Score and Red Flags
85/100 mission score, 1 red flag, and 4 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is Carstens Educational Fund Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $6K (85%) |
Across stored filings, Carstens Educational Fund shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
Decision Cockpit
One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub
| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 1 red flag identified |
| Mission spend | 85% to programs | Excellent |
| Financial durability | Grade A | 10 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Latinas Unidas Por Un Nuevo Amanecer | Iowa and Education context |
Trust Check
Review legitimacy, deductibility, red flags, and filing consistency.
Open charity check →Peer Benchmark
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Compare with Latinas Unidas Por Un Nuevo Amanecer →All Iowa nonprofits
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Local and Sector Spokes
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Cherokee, IA nonprofitsEducation in Iowa
Education in Iowa
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Jump into spending, compensation, rankings, and filing-year evidence.
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Education spending
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Keep the Investigation Moving
Carstens Educational Fund directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
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.
Organization Overview
Carstens Educational Fund is a micro nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $35K |
| Total Expenses | $7K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$28K |
| Total Assets | $812K |
| Total Liabilities | $6K |
| Net Assets | $806K |
| Operating Margin | 80.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 1424.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Carstens Educational Fund reported a surplus of $28K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 1424.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Carstens Educational Fund's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +40.8% | -88.9% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | +4.6% | -27.9% | -5.0% |
| 2021 | -16.6% | +1423.1% | +13.1% |
| 2020 | +4.3% | -10.9% | -9.9% |
| 2019 | -1.8% | -79.2% | +78.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| 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 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.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $28K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.8%.
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 legitimate charity?
Carstens Educational Fund (EIN: 207113069) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Iowa. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $34K. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Carstens Educational Fund spend its money?
Carstens Educational Fund directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Carstens Educational Fund tax-deductible?
Carstens Educational Fund is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 207113069). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Carstens Educational Fund's spending goes to programs?
Carstens Educational Fund directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Carstens Educational Fund compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Carstens Educational Fund is above average for NTEE category B82 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Carstens Educational Fund located?
Carstens Educational Fund is headquartered in Cherokee, Iowa and files with the IRS under EIN 207113069. It is classified under NTEE code B82.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Carstens Educational Fund have?
Carstens Educational Fund has 10 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 $34K in total revenue.
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. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Carstens Educational Fund:
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.