Shield Ministries
Shield Ministries shows volatile financial performance with recent deficits and significant liabilities.
EIN: 208885273 · N Charleston, SC · NTEE: P20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $645K |
| Total Expenses | $811K |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $852K |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Shield Ministries Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Shield Ministries directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Shield Ministries
Shield Ministries (EIN: 208885273) is a nonprofit organization based in N Charleston, SC, classified under NTEE code P20. The organization reported total revenue of $645K and total assets of $864K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Shield Ministries's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Shield Ministries is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 17 years, with 8 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2014–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 26.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $591K |
| Total Expenses | $811K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-219,635 |
| Total Assets | $2.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.1M |
| Net Assets | $852K |
| Operating Margin | -37.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 57.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 29.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Shield Ministries reported a deficit of $220K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 29.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 57.1% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 8 years of filings (2014–2023), Shield Ministries's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +1.7% | +40.0% | -13.0% |
| 2022 | +62.0% | -48.7% | +1460.5% |
| 2021 | -70.7% | +205.4% | -84.1% |
| 2020 | +250.9% | +8.1% | +1592.4% |
| 2019 | +48.1% | +49.6% | +80.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2009 |
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 Shield Ministries 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Shield Ministries allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% 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 deficit of $220K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 57.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Shield Ministries consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries or other compensation were paid to officers, directors, or trustees, which is a strong positive for transparency and resource allocation.
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 Shield Ministries's IRS 990 filings:
- Inconsistent financial performance with significant year-over-year fluctuations in revenue and expenses, such as the $219,635 deficit in 2023.
- Substantial increase in liabilities to over $1 million in recent years ($1,132,927 in 2023) without clear explanation in the summary data.
- Significant operating deficit in 2023 where expenses ($810,999) considerably outpaced revenue ($591,364).
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Shield Ministries:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong transparency regarding executive pay.
- Demonstrated ability to generate substantial revenue, reaching over $1.2 million in 2020.
- Significant asset growth in certain periods, peaking at $2,280,919 in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shield Ministries
Is Shield Ministries a legitimate charity?
Shield Ministries (EIN: 208885273) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in South Carolina. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 8 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $645K. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Shield Ministries spend its money?
Shield Ministries directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Shield Ministries tax-deductible?
Shield Ministries is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208885273). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Shield Ministries's spending goes to programs?
Shield Ministries directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Shield Ministries compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Shield Ministries is above average for NTEE category P20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Shield Ministries located?
Shield Ministries is headquartered in N Charleston, South Carolina and files with the IRS under EIN 208885273. It is classified under NTEE code P20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Shield Ministries have?
Shield Ministries has 8 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 $645K in total revenue.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities to over $1 million in 2022 and 2023?
The provided data shows liabilities jumped from $20,930 in 2020 to $1,209,037 in 2022 and $1,132,927 in 2023. The nature of these liabilities (e.g., mortgages, program-related debt) is not specified in the summary data and would require reviewing the full IRS 990 forms.
Why did expenses exceed revenue by over $200,000 in 2023?
In 2023, Shield Ministries reported expenses of $810,999 against revenue of $591,364, indicating a deficit of $219,635. The specific reasons for this spending exceeding income are not detailed in the summary data and would require a deeper dive into the organization's financial statements.
What led to the drastic fluctuation in assets, from $146,165 in 2021 to $2,280,919 in 2022?
The summary data shows a dramatic increase in assets between 2021 and 2022. This could be due to significant donations, property acquisition, or other major financial events. Without further detail from the full 990, the exact cause remains unclear.
How does Shield Ministries manage its financial planning given the high volatility in revenue and expenses?
The organization's financial history shows considerable year-to-year swings in both income and expenditures. Effective financial planning would be crucial to navigate such volatility, but the summary data does not provide insights into their budgeting or reserve strategies.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Shield Ministries showing financial trends over 8 years of public records:
Over 8 years of IRS 990 filings (2014–2023), Shield Ministries's revenue has grown by 699.2%, moving from $74K to $591K. Total assets increased by 187004.1% over the same period, from $1K to $2.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 999.2%, from $74K to $811K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Shield Ministries reported a deficit of $220K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.1M in liabilities against $2.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 57.1%), resulting in net assets of $852K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $591K | $811K | $2.0M | $1.1M | — | — |
| 2022 | $581K | $579K | $2.3M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $359K | $1.1M | $146K | $17K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.2M | $370K | $920K | $21K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $349K | $342K | $54K | $11K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $236K | $229K | $30K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $113K | $111K | $9K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $74K | $74K | $1K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $591K, expenses of $811K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue +1.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $581K, expenses of $579K, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +62.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $359K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $146K (revenue -70.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $370K, and assets of $920K (revenue +250.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $349K, expenses of $342K, and assets of $54K (revenue +48.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $236K, expenses of $229K, and assets of $30K (revenue +108.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $113K, expenses of $111K, and assets of $9K (revenue +53.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $74K, expenses of $74K, and assets of $1K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Shield Ministries:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Shield Ministries 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.