Dimensions Educational Research Foundation provides Research-based workshops, design consultations and hands-on resources to elementary schools, early childhood programs, nature centers, arboretums, botanical gardens, parks, zoos, wildlife refuges, national forest visitor centers and other organizations throughout the united states interested in helping children connect more deeply with the natural world. IT also runs the Dimensions early education programs, which serve as primary Research classrooms for on-going Research efforts. The organization operates a bimonthly publication focused on supporting early childhood professionals worldwide in their efforts to craft early childhood environments where adults and children thrive.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 400 volunteers and 63 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 $91K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$303K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Named funders
3
named funders · $75K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.9M
101% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 101% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.2M
-13% vs prior year
Spent
$3.5M
To programs
83%
Net assets
−$54K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.2M
FY2025▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.5M
FY2021$4.5M
FY2022$4.4M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$3.7M
FY2025$3.2M
Expenses
$3.5M
FY2025▼ -14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.3M
FY2021$4.3M
FY2022$4.5M
FY2023$4.1M
FY2024$4.1M
FY2025$3.5M
Net assets
−$54K
FY2025▼ -120%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$448K
FY2021$658K
FY2022$700K
FY2023$705K
FY2024$276K
FY2025−$54K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · 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 Jan 1998.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $2.9M Management & general 16% · $546K Fundraising 2% · $54K

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

14 people listed on the 990; $303K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$92,016Pt VII · Sec A
$90,134Pt VII · Sec A
$70,255Pt VII · Sec A
CFO - Former
$50,306Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jennifer Shiner’s $92K as CIO is at the 26th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3394 $1–10M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Julie Heyen——$83,151$113,732$97,812—
James Wike————$101,451$104,753
Andrea Koberstein$50,306$101,439$94,429———
Jennifer Shiner$92,016$81,486————
Tara Schroeder$90,134$75,528$72,796$61,290——
Sara Nelson$70,255—————
Nancy Rosenow————$44,203$45,687

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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Offers research-backed educational resources for children, families, and educators.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The organization provides hands-on, field-tested resources to schools, nature centers, national forests, parks and wildlife refuges, zoos, arboretums and early childhood programs.

$1.1Mprogram expense
02

The organization operates a bimonthly publication focused on supporting early childhood professionals worldwide in their efforts to craft early childhood environments where adults and children thrive.

$968Kprogram expense
03

The organization provides educational programs to the public youth of the state of nebraska.

$743Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$75K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.2M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$757K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$268K
Money outPt IX
$3.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.9M
Managementcol C$546K
Fundraisingcol D$54K
Owns and owesPt X
−$54K
net assets · Ln 32
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$268K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$116
Other incomeLn 4–11$757K
Total revenueLn 12$3.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.7M
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.9M
Net assetsLn 32−$54K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 563
VolunteersI 6400
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.8M$1.7M
Total assetsLn 16$4.4M$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.2M$3.9M
Net assetsLn 32$276K−$54K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$302K$213K$89K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.5M$1.4M$105K$48K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$102K$88K$11K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$161K$140K$17K$4K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$1K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$27K$12K$15K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$33K$14K$19K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$40K$40K
Information technologyLn 14$135K$85K$50K
TravelLn 17$93K$93K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$13K$13K$40
InterestLn 20$86K$10K$76K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$308K$265K$43K
InsuranceLn 23$64K$64K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$512K$459K$53K
All other expensesLn 24e$91K$90K$919
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.5M$2.9M$546K$54K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $3.2M$3.5M−$329K−$54K 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.7M$4.1M−$430K$276K 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.0M$4.1M−$76K$705K 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.4M$4.5M−$52K$700K 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.5M$4.3M$171K$658K 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.5M$4.3M$169K$448K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,174,630 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $444,586$268,100
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,214,241$2,149,736
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $247$116
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $993,348$756,678
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,652,422$3,174,630
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,797,728$2,099,339
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,284,263$1,404,651
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,081,991$3,503,990
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$429,569−$329,360
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $3,174,630 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $724,050 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$268,100
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$268,100
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,080,289 · Unrelated business $69,447$2,149,736
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $116$116
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $18,645$18,645
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $13,983$13,983
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,818,322 · Unrelated business $69,447 · Excluded from tax $18,761$3,174,630
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,503,990 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $213,428 · Management $88,757$302,185
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,381,135 · Management $105,053 · Fundraising $47,889$1,534,077
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $88,199 · Management $11,205 · Fundraising $2,567$101,971
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $140,366 · Management $17,096 · Fundraising $3,644$161,106
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,159 · Management $1,534$2,693
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $11,534 · Management $15,266$26,800
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $14,403 · Management $19,065$33,468
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $39,979$39,979
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $84,893 · Management $50,264$135,157
IX-17 TravelPrograms $93,298$93,298
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $12,621 · Management $40$12,661
IX-20 InterestPrograms $9,620 · Management $75,951$85,571
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $264,640 · Management $42,908$307,548
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $64,451$64,451
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $459,488 · Management $53,007$512,495
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $89,611 · Management $919$90,530
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,904,374 · Management $545,516 · Fundraising $54,100$3,503,990
Part X · Balance sheet $3,797,375 assets, 15 lines filed
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $174,791$82,525
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $102,347$80,024
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $29,581$35,389
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,767,959$1,723,129
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $2,364,472$1,876,308
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,443,394$3,797,375
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $668,447$640,665
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $421,561$243,360
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $731,984$777,184
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$18,863
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,167,788$3,851,129
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $240,990−$78,261
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $34,616$24,507
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $275,606−$53,754
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,443,394$3,797,375
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$53,754 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,174,630
XI-2 Total expenses$3,503,990
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$329,360
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$275,606
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$53,754

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

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