Childrens Imagination Station
Childrens Imagination Station maintains stable finances with zero liabilities and no officer compensation, despite a recent deficit.
EIN: 200500812 · Denison, IA · NTEE: P33 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $691K |
| Total Expenses | $693K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $491K |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
Childrens Imagination Station Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
Childrens Imagination Station 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 Childrens Imagination Station in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
13 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $624K and expenses of $693K.
Revenue and Expenses
Childrens Imagination Station reported $624K in revenue and $693K in expenses, a deficit of $68K.
Executive Compensation
Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.
Charity Score and Red Flags
90/100 mission score, 1 red flag, and 5 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is Childrens Imagination Station 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 | $589K (85%) |
Across stored filings, Childrens Imagination Station 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 B | 13 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Latinas Unidas Por Un Nuevo Amanecer | Iowa and Human Services context |
Trust Check
Review legitimacy, deductibility, red flags, and filing consistency.
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Keep the Investigation Moving
Childrens Imagination Station directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Childrens Imagination Station
Childrens Imagination Station (EIN: 200500812) is a nonprofit organization based in Denison, IA, classified under NTEE code P33. The organization reported total revenue of $691K and total assets of $488K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Childrens Imagination Station's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Childrens Imagination Station is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $624K |
| Total Expenses | $693K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-68,294 |
| Total Assets | $491K |
| Net Assets | $491K |
| Operating Margin | -10.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 8.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Childrens Imagination Station reported a deficit of $68K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 8.5 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Childrens Imagination Station's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -28.4% | +16.9% | -12.2% |
| 2022 | +33.4% | +16.5% | +99.9% |
| 2021 | +70.0% | +25.9% | +108.3% |
| 2020 | -24.6% | -22.1% | -12.5% |
| 2019 | -2.1% | -4.7% | -5.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
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 Childrens Imagination Station with a Mission Score of 90 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, Childrens Imagination Station 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 deficit of $68K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization with annual revenues consistently in the hundreds of thousands.
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 Childrens Imagination Station's IRS 990 filings:
- Recent deficit in 2023 ($692,771 expenses vs. $624,477 revenue)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Childrens Imagination Station:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported across all filings
- Zero liabilities reported consistently, indicating strong financial health
- Healthy and growing asset base, reaching $491,329 in 2023
- Strong surplus in 2022 ($872,380 revenue vs. $592,658 expenses)
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history over 13 periods demonstrates transparency
Frequently Asked Questions about Childrens Imagination Station
Is Childrens Imagination Station a legitimate charity?
Childrens Imagination Station (EIN: 200500812) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Iowa. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $691K. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Childrens Imagination Station spend its money?
Childrens Imagination Station directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Childrens Imagination Station tax-deductible?
Childrens Imagination Station is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200500812). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Childrens Imagination Station's spending goes to programs?
Childrens Imagination Station directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Childrens Imagination Station compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Childrens Imagination Station is above average for NTEE category P33 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Childrens Imagination Station located?
Childrens Imagination Station is headquartered in Denison, Iowa and files with the IRS under EIN 200500812. It is classified under NTEE code P33.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Childrens Imagination Station have?
Childrens Imagination Station 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 $691K in total revenue.
Is Childrens Imagination Station a good charity?
Based on the available financial data, Childrens Imagination Station appears to be a good charity. They consistently report 0% officer compensation, have zero liabilities, and maintain a healthy asset base, all of which are strong indicators of responsible financial management and a focus on their mission.
How does Childrens Imagination Station manage its expenses?
The organization generally manages its expenses well, often operating with surpluses, such as in 2022 where revenue ($872,380) significantly exceeded expenses ($592,658). While there was a deficit in 2023 ($624,477 revenue vs. $692,771 expenses), this follows a period of strong financial health and does not appear to be a systemic issue given their history.
What is the trend in Childrens Imagination Station's assets?
Childrens Imagination Station's assets have shown a positive growth trend over the past decade, increasing from $243,232 in 2014 to $491,329 in 2023, with a peak of $559,623 in 2022. This indicates a healthy accumulation of resources.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Childrens Imagination Station showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Childrens Imagination Station's revenue has grown by 31.9%, moving from $473K to $624K. Total assets increased by 178.6% over the same period, from $176K to $491K. Total functional expenses rose by 39.6%, from $496K to $693K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Childrens Imagination Station reported a deficit of $68K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $624K | $693K | $491K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $872K | $593K | $560K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $654K | $509K | $280K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $385K | $404K | $134K | $0 | — | — |
| 2019 | $510K | $519K | $153K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $521K | $544K | $162K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $502K | $530K | $185K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $523K | $551K | $214K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $565K | $566K | $242K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $577K | $572K | $243K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $593K | $554K | $237K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $551K | $529K | $202K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $473K | $496K | $176K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $624K, expenses of $693K, and assets of $491K (revenue -28.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $872K, expenses of $593K, and assets of $560K (revenue +33.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $654K, expenses of $509K, and assets of $280K (revenue +70.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $385K, expenses of $404K, and assets of $134K (revenue -24.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $510K, expenses of $519K, and assets of $153K (revenue -2.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $521K, expenses of $544K, and assets of $162K (revenue +3.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $502K, expenses of $530K, and assets of $185K (revenue -4.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $523K, expenses of $551K, and assets of $214K (revenue -7.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $565K, expenses of $566K, and assets of $242K (revenue -2.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $577K, expenses of $572K, and assets of $243K (revenue -2.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $593K, expenses of $554K, and assets of $237K (revenue +7.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $551K, expenses of $529K, and assets of $202K (revenue +16.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $473K, expenses of $496K, and assets of $176K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Childrens Imagination Station:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Childrens Imagination Station 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.