Local First Educational Foundation
Local First Educational Foundation experiences fluctuating revenues and consistent deficit spending in recent years.
EIN: 204696543 · Grand Rapids, MI · NTEE: S99 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $979K |
| Total Expenses | $658K |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $60K |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Local First Educational Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Local First Educational Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Local First Educational Foundation
Local First Educational Foundation (EIN: 204696543) is a nonprofit organization based in Grand Rapids, MI, classified under NTEE code S99. The organization reported total revenue of $979K and total assets of $153K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Local First Educational Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Local First Educational Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 8.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $506K |
| Total Expenses | $658K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-151,901 |
| Total Assets | $61K |
| Total Liabilities | $2K |
| Net Assets | $60K |
| Operating Margin | -30.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 2.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 1.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Local First Educational Foundation reported a deficit of $152K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 1.1 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 2.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2011–2023), Local First Educational Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +30.0% | +65.6% | -71.3% |
| 2022 | +73.3% | +33.3% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | -46.7% | -15.2% | -24.7% |
| 2020 | -20.2% | -7.1% | +31.4% |
| 2019 | +106.5% | +37.9% | +127.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| 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 Local First Educational Foundation with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Local First Educational Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $152K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 2.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the organization, which is a positive sign for directing funds to the mission.
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 Local First Educational Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Recurring periods of expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 202312, 202212, 202112)
- Significant fluctuation and recent decline in assets (from $294,675 in 202012 to $61,474 in 202312)
- NTEE code S99 ('Unknown') limits clarity on programmatic focus
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Local First Educational Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating strong financial stewardship regarding executive pay
- Long filing history (14 filings) suggests consistent compliance with IRS reporting requirements
- Latest revenue of $978,531 indicates significant fundraising capacity
Frequently Asked Questions about Local First Educational Foundation
Is Local First Educational Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Local First Educational Foundation (EIN: 204696543) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Local First Educational Foundation spend its money?
Local First Educational Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Local First Educational Foundation tax-deductible?
Local First Educational Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204696543). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Local First Educational Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Local First Educational Foundation directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Local First Educational Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Local First Educational Foundation is above average for NTEE category S99 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Local First Educational Foundation located?
Local First Educational Foundation is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and files with the IRS under EIN 204696543. It is classified under NTEE code S99.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Local First Educational Foundation have?
Local First Educational Foundation has 14 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 $979K in total revenue.
Is Local First Educational Foundation financially sustainable given its recurring deficits?
The organization has experienced deficits in multiple years, including the most recent filing (202312) where expenses ($657,928) significantly exceeded revenue ($506,027). This pattern raises concerns about long-term financial sustainability.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided data does not include a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories, making it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.
Why does the organization's NTEE code indicate 'Unknown' (S99)?
An NTEE code of S99 ('Unknown') suggests that the organization's primary purpose may not be clearly categorized, which can impact transparency and comparability with other nonprofits.
What caused the significant drop in assets from $294,675 in 202012 to $61,474 in 202312?
The substantial decrease in assets over this period warrants further investigation to understand if it was due to asset utilization for programs, investment losses, or other financial activities.
How does the organization plan to address the consistent periods of expenses exceeding revenue?
The recurring deficits, such as in 202312 ($151,901 deficit) and 202212 ($8,170 deficit), suggest a need for strategic financial planning to ensure long-term operational viability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Local First Educational Foundation showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Local First Educational Foundation's revenue has grown by 158.9%, moving from $195K to $506K. Total assets increased by 38.9% over the same period, from $44K to $61K. Total functional expenses rose by 346.4%, from $147K to $658K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Local First Educational Foundation reported a deficit of $152K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2K in liabilities against $61K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 2.8%), resulting in net assets of $60K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $506K | $658K | $61K | $2K | — | — |
| 2022 | $389K | $397K | $214K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $225K | $298K | $222K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $422K | $351K | $295K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $529K | $378K | $224K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $256K | $274K | $99K | $26K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $382K | $339K | $91K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $268K | $271K | $99K | $51K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $299K | $275K | $284K | $233K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $117K | $195K | $175K | $146K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $228K | $156K | $106K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $195K | $195K | $38K | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $82K | $62K | $62K | $34K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $195K | $147K | $44K | $36K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $506K, expenses of $658K, and assets of $61K (revenue +30.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $389K, expenses of $397K, and assets of $214K (revenue +73.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $225K, expenses of $298K, and assets of $222K (revenue -46.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $422K, expenses of $351K, and assets of $295K (revenue -20.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $529K, expenses of $378K, and assets of $224K (revenue +106.5% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $256K, expenses of $274K, and assets of $99K (revenue -32.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $382K, expenses of $339K, and assets of $91K (revenue +42.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $268K, expenses of $271K, and assets of $99K (revenue -10.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $299K, expenses of $275K, and assets of $284K (revenue +155.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $117K, expenses of $195K, and assets of $175K (revenue -48.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $228K, expenses of $156K, and assets of $106K (revenue +16.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $195K, expenses of $195K, and assets of $38K (revenue +138.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $82K, expenses of $62K, and assets of $62K (revenue -58.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $195K, expenses of $147K, and assets of $44K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Local First Educational Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Local First Educational Foundation 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.