The mission of Surprise Lake Camp is to provide a high quality jewish experience for children and young adults that is safe, fun and promotes personal growth. Through our summer Camp and year round programs, we promote jewish identity building, environmental stewardship, and the development of values and skills that help people lead fulfilling lives and become assets to their communities. Surprise Lake Camp is committed to providing scholarships for families that cannot afford our full fee.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 90 volunteers and 211 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $176K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$308K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $7.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $302K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$894K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
27
of 27 voting members
Looks good: 27 of 27 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.4M
+5% vs prior year
Spent
$4.9M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$13.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.4M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$3.9M
FY2022$5.4M
FY2023$3.8M
FY2024$4.2M
FY2025$4.4M
Expenses
$4.9M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$4.4M
FY2022$4.2M
FY2023$4.5M
FY2024$4.7M
FY2025$4.9M
Net assets
$13.2M
FY2025▲ +1%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$13.8M
FY2021$14.2M
FY2022$13.2M
FY2023$13.2M
FY2024$13.0M
FY2025$13.2M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 1923.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $4.0M Management & general 13% · $651K Fundraising 4% · $213K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

29 people listed on the 990; $308K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$197,231Pt VII · Sec A
Camp Director
$110,866Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Adam Bendeson$197,231$194,389$199,444$186,206——
Bradley Solmsen————$126,127$118,785
Sheryl Kirschenbaum$110,866$112,623$109,947$108,628$122,648$96,678

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Offers a fun, safe Jewish camp experience promoting personal growth for youth.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $4.0M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Surprise Lake Camps mission is to provide a high-quality camping experience primarily for Jewish children which fosters their social, moral, cultural, physical, and emotional education and development.

$4.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$302K
Grants paid · 3 grants · $1.2M · 2021–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$299,370
Unitemized GrantFY2022$434,001
Unitemized GrantFY2021$500,318

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$216K
Money outPt IX
$4.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.0M
Managementcol C$651K
Fundraisingcol D$213K
Owns and owesPt X
$13.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$407K
Total assetsLn 16$14.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$894K
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a27
IndependentVI 1b27
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$216K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$4.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$407K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$407K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.1M
Other assetsLn 15$82K
Total assetsLn 16$14.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$894K
Net assetsLn 32$13.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5211
VolunteersI 690
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$58K$407K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.4M$7.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.2M$6.1M
Total assetsLn 16$13.8M$14.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$834K$894K
Net assetsLn 32$13.0M$13.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$343K$343K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$79K$79K
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$235K$59K$117K$59K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$940K$281K$107K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$49K$35K$10K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$172K$116K$40K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$114K$74K$29K$11K
Management feesLn 11a$51K$51K
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$15K$15K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$51K$51K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$57K$37K$14K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$75K$49K$19K$8K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$92K$91K$1K$415
TravelLn 17$282K$279K$2K$699
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$443K$443K
InsuranceLn 23$143K$143K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.3M$1.3M
All other expensesLn 24e$84K$12K$71K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.9M$4.0M$651K$213K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.4M$4.9M−$555K$13.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.2M$4.7M−$567K$13.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.8M$4.5M−$691K$13.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.4M$4.2M$1.2M$13.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.9M$4.4M−$545K$14.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.1M$2.0M$90K$13.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,358,852 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,338,481$1,512,320
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,406,511$2,630,730
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $419,888$215,802
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,164,880$4,358,852
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $334,081$421,597
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,891,545$1,899,137
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,506,427$2,592,911
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,732,053$4,913,645
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$567,173−$554,793
Part VI · Governance 27 of 27 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body27
VI-1b Independent voting members27
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,358,852 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,512,320
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,512,320
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,630,730$2,630,730
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $215,802$215,802
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,630,730 · Excluded from tax $215,802$4,358,852
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,913,645 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $343,049$343,049
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $78,548$78,548
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $58,691 · Management $117,383 · Fundraising $58,691$234,765
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $939,783 · Management $281,328 · Fundraising $107,215$1,328,326
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $35,449 · Management $10,242 · Fundraising $3,677$49,368
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $116,128 · Management $40,478 · Fundraising $15,674$172,280
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $74,358 · Management $28,600 · Fundraising $11,440$114,398
IX-11a Management feesManagement $51,260$51,260
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $15,000$15,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $51,012$51,012
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $37,128 · Management $14,280 · Fundraising $5,712$57,120
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $48,946 · Management $18,825 · Fundraising $7,530$75,301
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $91,023 · Management $1,037 · Fundraising $415$92,475
IX-17 TravelPrograms $279,282 · Management $1,748 · Fundraising $699$281,729
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $442,942$442,942
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $142,642$142,642
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,299,161$1,299,161
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $11,615 · Management $70,867 · Fundraising $1,787$84,269
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,049,757 · Management $651,048 · Fundraising $212,840$4,913,645
Part X · Balance sheet $14,055,253 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $58,397$406,780
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $20,566$1,256
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $12,097$12,097
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,150,153$6,107,832
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $7,079,963$7,140,166
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $353,319$304,920
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $143,306$82,202
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $13,817,801$14,055,253
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $18,351$27,666
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $669,046$784,505
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $143,306$82,202
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $834,274$894,373
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,090,368$7,566,450
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,893,159$5,594,430
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $12,983,527$13,160,880
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $13,817,801$14,055,253
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,160,880 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,358,852
XI-2 Total expenses$4,913,645
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$554,793
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$12,983,527
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$732,146
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,160,880

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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