Liberty Charter School
Liberty Charter School shows strong financial growth and asset accumulation with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 202654825 · Madera, CA · NTEE: B20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Liberty Charter School Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Liberty Charter School directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Liberty Charter School
Liberty Charter School (EIN: 202654825) is a nonprofit organization based in Madera, CA, classified under NTEE code B20. The organization reported total revenue of $15.6M and total assets of $13.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Liberty Charter School's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Liberty Charter School is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 13.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $13.1M |
| Total Expenses | $11.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$1.8M |
| Total Assets | $14.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $4.6M |
| Net Assets | $10.0M |
| Operating Margin | 13.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 31.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 15.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Liberty Charter School reported a surplus of $1.8M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 15.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 31.6% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Liberty Charter School's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +17.8% | +31.9% | +41.3% |
| 2022 | +5.4% | +14.0% | +38.7% |
| 2021 | +20.1% | -16.0% | +73.0% |
| 2020 | -4.1% | +1.5% | +13.4% |
| 2019 | +10.7% | +22.6% | +12.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
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 Liberty Charter School 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, Liberty Charter School 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 $1.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 31.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Liberty Charter School consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and revenue ($13M+). This suggests either a volunteer leadership structure or that compensation is categorized differently, warranting further investigation for complete transparency.
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 Liberty Charter School's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, which may obscure how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Liberty Charter School:
- Consistent and strong revenue growth, from $3.5M in 2014 to $13M+ in 2023.
- Significant asset accumulation, growing from under $1M to over $14M, indicating financial stability and investment capacity.
- Consistent operational surpluses, with revenue exceeding expenses in most years (e.g., $13M revenue vs. $11.2M expenses in 2023).
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), demonstrating commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance.
- Healthy asset-to-liability ratio, with assets significantly exceeding liabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Liberty Charter School
Is Liberty Charter School a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Liberty Charter School (EIN: 202654825) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Liberty Charter School spend its money?
Liberty Charter School directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Liberty Charter School tax-deductible?
Liberty Charter School is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 202654825). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Liberty Charter School manage to report 0% officer compensation given its size?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 13 filings is highly unusual for an organization with over $13 million in annual revenue. This could indicate a volunteer board, that compensation is paid through a related entity, or that it's categorized under other expenses, which would require reviewing the full 990 forms for clarification.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided summary data does not offer a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses. To understand the exact allocation, one would need to review the full IRS Form 990, specifically Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses.
What is the purpose of the significant increase in assets from $864,463 in 2014 to $14,576,647 in 2023?
The substantial growth in assets likely reflects investments in facilities, educational resources, and potentially the accumulation of reserves. Given it's a charter school, this could include new buildings, technology, or land acquisition to support its educational mission and growing student body.
How does the organization's liability growth compare to its asset growth?
While assets grew significantly from $864,463 in 2014 to $14,576,647 in 2023, liabilities also increased from $483,551 to $4,603,247 over the same period. However, the asset growth far outpaces liability growth, indicating a healthy financial position where assets comfortably cover liabilities.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Liberty Charter School showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Liberty Charter School's revenue has grown by 335.1%, moving from $3.0M to $13.1M. Total assets increased by 1670.6% over the same period, from $823K to $14.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 286.2%, from $2.9M to $11.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Liberty Charter School reported a surplus of $1.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $4.6M in liabilities against $14.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 31.6%), resulting in net assets of $10.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $13.1M | $11.3M | $14.6M | $4.6M | — | — |
| 2022 | $11.1M | $8.5M | $10.3M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $10.5M | $7.5M | $7.4M | $1.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $8.7M | $8.9M | $4.3M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $9.1M | $8.8M | $3.8M | $958K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $8.2M | $7.2M | $3.4M | $853K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $6.8M | $5.9M | $1.7M | $277K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $5.5M | $5.1M | $1.0M | $470K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.0M | $4.3M | $760K | $649K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $3.5M | $3.3M | $864K | $484K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.4M | $3.3M | $1.1M | $960K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.0M | $3.0M | $958K | $945K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.0M | $2.9M | $823K | $849K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $13.1M, expenses of $11.3M, and assets of $14.6M (revenue +17.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $11.1M, expenses of $8.5M, and assets of $10.3M (revenue +5.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $10.5M, expenses of $7.5M, and assets of $7.4M (revenue +20.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $8.7M, expenses of $8.9M, and assets of $4.3M (revenue -4.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $9.1M, expenses of $8.8M, and assets of $3.8M (revenue +10.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $8.2M, expenses of $7.2M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +21.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $5.9M, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +23.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $1.0M (revenue +36.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $4.3M, and assets of $760K (revenue +13.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $864K (revenue +4.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.4M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +11.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $958K (revenue +1.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $823K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Liberty Charter School:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Liberty Charter School 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.