Lifeline Energy Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 2291 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AUDIO CONTENT THAT EDUCATES, INFORMS AND INVIGORATES LEARNING FOR VULNERABLE AND AT-RISK POPULATIONS MAINLY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. OUR FIT-FOR-PURPOSE, SOLAR AND WIND-UP RADIOS AND MP3 PLAYERS ARE DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED FOR LARGE GROUPS, CLASSROOMS AND ALSO FAMILIES. WE RESPOND TO HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES GLOBALLY WITH SOLAR AND WIND-UP RADIO-LIGHTS. WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING OF LOCAL PARTNERS AND POPULATIONS. AS A RESULT OF MANY YEARS WORKING ACROSS AFRICA IN ALL TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES, LIFELINE ENERGY FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES COMMUNICATIONS, DESIGN, WEBSITE, DIGITAL LITERACY AND OTHER TYPES OF TRAINING TO NGOS, AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURS, AND OTHERS WORKING IN AFRICA IN THE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR. THE AIM IS TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY AND SKILLS. MUCH OF THIS WORK IS UNDERTAKEN ON A PRO BONO BASIS.
- Income
- $119,106
- Spending
- $137,604
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 14 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2291 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $110,543 spent. THE ORGANIZATION FUNDED PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOLAR AND WIND-UP RADIOS AND MEDIA PLAYERS TO CRITICALLY POOR POPULATIONS, FARMER GROUPS, WOMEN'S LISTENING GROUPS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, ENABLING SUSTAINED ACCESS TO INFORMATION, EDUCATION, CLEAN LIGHT AND CELL PHONE CHARGING. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH IN-COUNTRY NGOS AND COMMUNITITES FOR RADIO LISTENING TRAININGS. IN ADDITION, IT WORKED WITH LOCAL START-UP ENTREPRENEURS AND SOCIAL INNOVATORS TO CONDUCT TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOPS MAINLY TO HELP INCREASE THEIR COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY. IN ADDITION, IT WORKED WITH LOCAL START-UP ENTREPRENEURS AND SOCIAL INNOVATORS, DELIVERING CAPACITY-BUILDING, BRANDING, AND PRESENTATION WORKSHOPS TO HELP THEM RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS, IN TURN, CREATE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Lifelink Foundation Inc (Tampa, FL), EIN 59-2193032. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.