Northwest Iowa Christian School
Northwest Iowa Christian School reports no officer compensation and zero liabilities, but experienced a deficit in 2023.
EIN: 205284178 · Sheldon, IA · NTEE: B82 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Northwest Iowa Christian School Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Northwest Iowa Christian School directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Northwest Iowa Christian School
Northwest Iowa Christian School (EIN: 205284178) is a nonprofit organization based in Sheldon, IA, classified under NTEE code B82. The organization reported total revenue of $2.1M and total assets of $2.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Northwest Iowa Christian School's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Northwest Iowa Christian School 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, Northwest Iowa Christian 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.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an entity with over $2 million in annual revenue and assets, suggesting either a fully volunteer leadership or compensation structured in a way not reported as officer pay.
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 Northwest Iowa Christian School's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation for an organization of this size, which is highly unusual and warrants further investigation for transparency.
- Expenses ($2,502,113) exceeded revenue ($2,197,942) in the latest 2023 filing, indicating a deficit for that period.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Northwest Iowa Christian School:
- Strong financial stability with assets consistently exceeding liabilities, and $0 reported liabilities across all filings.
- Consistent revenue growth over the past decade, from $1,385,014 in 2014 to $2,197,942 in 2023.
- Maintains a healthy asset base, with assets of $2,129,102 in 2023.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating transparency in financial reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Iowa Christian School
Is Northwest Iowa Christian School a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Northwest Iowa Christian School (EIN: 205284178) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Northwest Iowa Christian School spend its money?
Northwest Iowa Christian School directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Northwest Iowa Christian School tax-deductible?
Northwest Iowa Christian School is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205284178). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Northwest Iowa Christian School manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?
The provided data consistently shows 0% officer compensation. This could mean that the leadership is entirely volunteer, or that compensation is structured in a way that is not reported under 'officer compensation' on the 990 form, such as through a related entity or as general staff salaries. Further review of the full 990 forms would be needed to clarify this.
What caused the deficit in 2023, where expenses exceeded revenue by over $300,000?
In 2023, the organization reported expenses of $2,502,113 against revenues of $2,197,942, resulting in a deficit. Without the detailed expense breakdown from the full 990, it's impossible to pinpoint the exact cause, but it could be due to increased operational costs, one-time investments, or a temporary dip in donations/tuition.
What is the breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided summary data does not include a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses. To assess spending efficiency accurately, the full IRS Form 990 would need to be reviewed to see how the total expenses are allocated across these categories.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Northwest Iowa Christian School showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Northwest Iowa Christian School's revenue has grown by 162.7%, moving from $837K to $2.2M. Total assets increased by 154.3% over the same period, from $837K to $2.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 207.1%, from $815K to $2.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Northwest Iowa Christian School reported a deficit of $304K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.2M | $2.5M | $2.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $2.5M | $1.9M | $2.4M | $0 | — | — |
| 2021 | $1.8M | $2.1M | $1.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.1M | $1.8M | $2.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.7M | $1.6M | $1.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.6M | $1.5M | $1.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.5M | $1.5M | $1.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.5M | $1.4M | $1.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.4M | $1.4M | $1.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.4M | $1.0M | $1.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1000K | $977K | $986K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $975K | $849K | $964K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $837K | $815K | $837K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -11.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $2.4M (revenue +35.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $1.8M (revenue -10.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $2.0M (revenue +17.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +12.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +1.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +1.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +6.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +2.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +38.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1000K, expenses of $977K, and assets of $986K (revenue +2.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $975K, expenses of $849K, and assets of $964K (revenue +16.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $837K, expenses of $815K, and assets of $837K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Northwest Iowa Christian 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.