Lifebuilders
Lifebuilders shows consistent revenue and asset growth with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 203916750 · Detroit, MI · NTEE: P72 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.6M |
| Total Expenses | $2.0M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $3.6M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Lifebuilders Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Lifebuilders directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Lifebuilders
Lifebuilders (EIN: 203916750) is a nonprofit organization based in Detroit, MI, classified under NTEE code P72. The organization reported total revenue of $2.6M and total assets of $6.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Lifebuilders's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Lifebuilders is a mid-size 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 17.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.0M |
| Total Expenses | $2.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$35K |
| Total Assets | $6.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.8M |
| Net Assets | $3.6M |
| Operating Margin | 1.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 43.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 39.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Lifebuilders reported a surplus of $35K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 39.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 43.6% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Lifebuilders's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -9.6% | +9.3% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | -14.5% | -16.4% | +28.6% |
| 2021 | +49.2% | +55.3% | +13.9% |
| 2020 | -9.1% | -37.6% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | +51.0% | +91.2% | +0.8% |
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 Lifebuilders 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, Lifebuilders 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 $35K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 43.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Lifebuilders consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries or benefits are paid to officers, which is highly unusual and suggests a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, warranting further investigation for full 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 Lifebuilders's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further investigation into how executive leadership is compensated or structured.
- Significant increase in liabilities from $201,419 in 2016 to $2,806,807 in 2023 without clear explanation in summary data.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Lifebuilders:
- Consistent revenue generation and growth over the past decade, demonstrating financial stability.
- Strong asset growth from $1,072,058 in 2014 to $6,438,220 in 2023, indicating effective financial management.
- Expenses generally kept below revenue, leading to positive net assets in most years.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds towards mission-related activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lifebuilders
Is Lifebuilders a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Lifebuilders (EIN: 203916750) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Lifebuilders spend its money?
Lifebuilders directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Lifebuilders tax-deductible?
Lifebuilders is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203916750). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Lifebuilders's spending goes to programs?
Lifebuilders directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Lifebuilders compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Lifebuilders is above average for NTEE category P72 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Lifebuilders located?
Lifebuilders is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and files with the IRS under EIN 203916750. It is classified under NTEE code P72.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Lifebuilders have?
Lifebuilders 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 $2.6M in total revenue.
How does Lifebuilders manage to report 0% officer compensation consistently?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 13 filings is highly unusual for an organization of its size and revenue. This could indicate that executive roles are entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is categorized differently within their financial statements, such as under general salaries or program expenses, which would require a deeper dive into their detailed Form 990s to clarify.
What is the specific breakdown of Lifebuilders' program activities?
While the NTEE code P72 indicates 'Housing, Shelter,' the available summary data does not provide specific details on the types of programs Lifebuilders operates. A review of their full Form 990, Part III, 'Statement of Program Service Accomplishments,' would be necessary to understand their specific initiatives and impact.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities from $201,419 in 2016 to $2,806,807 in 2023?
Lifebuilders' liabilities have grown substantially, from $201,419 in 2016 to $2,806,807 in 2023. This significant increase could be due to various factors such as taking on debt for property acquisition, program expansion, or other operational needs. Further analysis of their balance sheet in the full 990 filings would be needed to identify the specific nature of these liabilities.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Lifebuilders showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Lifebuilders's revenue has grown by 615.6%, moving from $280K to $2.0M. Total assets increased by 1414.1% over the same period, from $425K to $6.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 838.8%, from $210K to $2.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Lifebuilders reported a surplus of $35K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $2.8M in liabilities against $6.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 43.6%), resulting in net assets of $3.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.0M | $2.0M | $6.4M | $2.8M | — | — |
| 2022 | $2.2M | $1.8M | $6.1M | $2.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.6M | $2.2M | $4.8M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.7M | $1.4M | $4.2M | $1.5M | — | — |
| 2019 | $1.9M | $2.2M | $4.1M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.3M | $1.2M | $4.0M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2.0M | $1.2M | $3.3M | $701K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.1M | $893K | $2.0M | $201K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.2M | $558K | $1.7M | $45K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $675K | $399K | $1.1M | $84K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $461K | $326K | $759K | $46K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $446K | $249K | $614K | $36K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $280K | $210K | $425K | $39K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $6.4M (revenue -9.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $6.1M (revenue -14.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $4.8M (revenue +49.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $4.2M (revenue -9.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $4.1M (revenue +51.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $4.0M (revenue -37.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $3.3M (revenue +87.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $893K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -10.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $558K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +76.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $675K, expenses of $399K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +46.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $461K, expenses of $326K, and assets of $759K (revenue +3.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $446K, expenses of $249K, and assets of $614K (revenue +59.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $280K, expenses of $210K, and assets of $425K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Lifebuilders:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Lifebuilders 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.