Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation shows recent revenue growth and minimal liabilities, with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 204480084 · Phoenix, AZ · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.1M |
| Total Expenses | $1.9M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $3 |
| Net Assets | $402K |
| Transparency Score | 80/100 |
Is Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation (EIN: 204480084) is a nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, AZ, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $3.1M and total assets of $510K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 18 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.1M |
| Total Expenses | $1.9M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$221K |
| Total Assets | $402K |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $402K |
| Operating Margin | 10.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 2.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation reported a surplus of $221K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 2.6 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +217.7% | +66.9% | +121.5% |
| 2022 | -51.1% | +25.9% | -72.0% |
| 2021 | +42.3% | -12.3% | +239.1% |
| 2020 | -25.9% | -6.7% | -27.2% |
| 2019 | +57.1% | +29.9% | +749.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2008 |
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 Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation with a Mission Score of 80 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, Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation 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 $221K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available IRS 990 filings, suggesting either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is categorized differently within their expenses. This is highly unusual for an organization with revenues exceeding $3 million and warrants further scrutiny to understand the true cost of leadership.
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 Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% reported officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this scale and warrants further investigation into how leadership is compensated or structured.
- Fluctuating revenue and expenses, with several years (e.g., 2022, 2020, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) showing expenses exceeding revenue, indicating periods of deficit spending.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation:
- Strong recent financial performance, with 2023 revenue ($2,109,752) significantly exceeding expenses ($1,889,083), leading to asset growth.
- Minimal liabilities consistently reported ($0 or $1), indicating strong financial stability and low debt burden.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history (10 filings), demonstrating a commitment to transparency and compliance.
- Significant asset growth from $181,616 in 2022 to $402,285 in 2023, reflecting improved financial health.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation
Is Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation a legitimate charity?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation (EIN: 204480084) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Arizona. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 80/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $3.1M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation spend its money?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation tax-deductible?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204480084). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation CEO make?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $3 annually. The organization reported $3.1M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 80/100 (Excellent), Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation located?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and files with the IRS under EIN 204480084. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation have?
Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation 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 $3.1M in total revenue.
How does Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation manage to operate with 0% reported officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 10 filings is highly unusual for an organization of this size. It suggests either a fully volunteer executive leadership, or that executive compensation is being reported under other expense categories, which would require reviewing the full 990 forms for clarification.
What is the actual breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided summary data does not include a detailed functional expense breakdown. To assess spending efficiency accurately, one would need to examine the full IRS 990 forms, specifically Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses, to see how the total expenses (e.g., $1,889,083 in 2023) are allocated.
What caused the significant revenue increase from $663,994 in 2022 to $2,109,752 in 2023?
The substantial increase in revenue in the latest period (202312) from the prior year (202212) suggests a successful fundraising year, a large grant, or a significant investment return. Further investigation into the revenue sources detailed in the full 990 would be necessary to understand this growth.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation's revenue has grown by 147.9%, moving from $851K to $2.1M. Total assets increased by 90.6% over the same period, from $211K to $402K. Total functional expenses rose by 135.8%, from $801K to $1.9M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation reported a surplus of $221K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $402K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $402K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.1M | $1.9M | $402K | $1 | — | — |
| 2022 | $664K | $1.1M | $182K | $1 | — | — |
| 2021 | $1.4M | $899K | $650K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $954K | $1.0M | $192K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.3M | $1.1M | $263K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $819K | $846K | $31K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.1M | $1.1M | $58K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $965K | $982K | $87K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.4M | $1.6M | $104K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $851K | $801K | $211K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $402K (revenue +217.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $664K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $182K (revenue -51.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $899K, and assets of $650K (revenue +42.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $954K, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $192K (revenue -25.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $263K (revenue +57.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $819K, expenses of $846K, and assets of $31K (revenue -26.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $58K (revenue +16.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $965K, expenses of $982K, and assets of $87K (revenue -33.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $104K (revenue +70.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $851K, expenses of $801K, and assets of $211K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Lodestar Philanthropic Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Lodestar Philanthropic 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.