Vibrant Faith Ministries
Vibrant Faith Ministries consistently spends more than it earns, leading to fluctuating assets and increasing liabilities.
EIN: 134236428 · Ellendale, MN · NTEE: P40 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $546K |
| Total Expenses | $1.2M |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $218K |
| Transparency Score | 55/100 |
Is Vibrant Faith Ministries Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Vibrant Faith Ministries directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Vibrant Faith Ministries
Vibrant Faith Ministries (EIN: 134236428) is a nonprofit organization based in Ellendale, MN, classified under NTEE code P40. The organization reported total revenue of $546K and total assets of $927K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Vibrant Faith Ministries's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Vibrant Faith Ministries is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 23 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $946K |
| Total Expenses | $1.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-240,622 |
| Total Assets | $904K |
| Total Liabilities | $685K |
| Net Assets | $218K |
| Operating Margin | -25.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 75.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 9.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Vibrant Faith Ministries reported a deficit of $241K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 9.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 75.9% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Vibrant Faith Ministries's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +77.4% | +29.7% | -41.9% |
| 2022 | -46.6% | -22.9% | +65.0% |
| 2021 | +104.3% | +17.7% | -31.8% |
| 2020 | -70.0% | -22.8% | -28.1% |
| 2019 | +88.3% | +0.1% | +36.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2003 |
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 Vibrant Faith Ministries with a Mission Score of 55 out of 100 (Fair). 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, Vibrant Faith Ministries 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 $241K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 75.9%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is categorized differently within the expense structure, which is positive for minimizing overhead.
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 Vibrant Faith Ministries's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits (expenses exceeding revenue in most years, e.g., 2023, 2022, 2021)
- Significant increase in liabilities in recent years (from $102,822 in 2021 to $685,428 in 2023)
- Declining asset base in recent periods (from $1,554,424 in 2022 to $903,583 in 2023)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Vibrant Faith Ministries:
- No reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating low executive overhead.
- Long history of consistent IRS 990 filings (13 filings), demonstrating transparency in reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vibrant Faith Ministries
Is Vibrant Faith Ministries a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Vibrant Faith Ministries (EIN: 134236428) some concerns. Mission Score: 55/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
How does Vibrant Faith Ministries spend its money?
Vibrant Faith Ministries directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Vibrant Faith Ministries tax-deductible?
Vibrant Faith Ministries is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134236428). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Vibrant Faith Ministries's spending goes to programs?
Vibrant Faith Ministries directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Vibrant Faith Ministries compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 55/100 (Fair), Vibrant Faith Ministries is near average for NTEE category P40 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Vibrant Faith Ministries located?
Vibrant Faith Ministries is headquartered in Ellendale, Minnesota and files with the IRS under EIN 134236428. It is classified under NTEE code P40.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Vibrant Faith Ministries have?
Vibrant Faith Ministries 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 $546K in total revenue.
Why do expenses consistently exceed revenue for Vibrant Faith Ministries?
The IRS 990 data shows a recurring pattern where total expenses surpass total revenue in most years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020). This suggests the organization may be drawing from reserves, relying on prior year surpluses, or experiencing funding shortfalls.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities in recent years?
Liabilities jumped from $102,822 in 2021 to $1,097,065 in 2022 and $685,428 in 2023. This substantial increase warrants investigation into the nature of these liabilities (e.g., loans, deferred revenue, accounts payable) as it could indicate financial strain or significant new commitments.
How does Vibrant Faith Ministries sustain operations with consistent deficits?
With expenses frequently exceeding revenue, the organization likely relies on accumulated net assets from more profitable years (like 2017 where revenue significantly outpaced expenses) or other non-operating income sources not detailed in the summary data to cover its operational gaps.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Vibrant Faith Ministries showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Vibrant Faith Ministries's revenue has grown by 4.6%, moving from $905K to $946K. Total assets decreased by 36% over the same period, from $1.4M to $904K. Total functional expenses rose by 46.7%, from $809K to $1.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Vibrant Faith Ministries reported a deficit of $241K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $685K in liabilities against $904K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 75.9%), resulting in net assets of $218K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $946K | $1.2M | $904K | $685K | — | — |
| 2022 | $533K | $915K | $1.6M | $1.1M | — | — |
| 2021 | $999K | $1.2M | $942K | $103K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $489K | $1.0M | $1.4M | $26K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.6M | $1.3M | $1.9M | $47K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $866K | $1.3M | $1.4M | $68K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2.3M | $809K | $1.8M | $142K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $756K | $858K | $565K | $190K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $652K | $916K | $940K | $245K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $912K | $1.1M | $1.2M | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $954K | $1.1M | $1.4M | $46K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $841K | $995K | $1.3M | $59K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $905K | $809K | $1.4M | $50K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $946K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $904K (revenue +77.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $533K, expenses of $915K, and assets of $1.6M (revenue -46.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $999K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $942K (revenue +104.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $489K, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $1.4M (revenue -70.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +88.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $866K, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $1.4M (revenue -62.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2.3M, expenses of $809K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue +202.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $756K, expenses of $858K, and assets of $565K (revenue +16.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $652K, expenses of $916K, and assets of $940K (revenue -28.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $912K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $1.2M (revenue -4.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $954K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +13.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $841K, expenses of $995K, and assets of $1.3M (revenue -7.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $905K, expenses of $809K, and assets of $1.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Vibrant Faith Ministries:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Vibrant Faith 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.