Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 1978.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
61 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
16 people listed on the 990; $94K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Wasser | $93,792 | $81,671 | $85,706 |
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.
See Severson Dells Educational Foundation executive salaries →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
Teaches people of all ages about nature through hands-on experiences.
Questions for Severson Dells Educational Foundation
Your first name shows with your question. Severson Dells Educational Foundation answers here, for everyone.
Sdef provides educational services to the general public about the natural environment through camps, family programs, guided walks, scout programs, and lectures. Other public programs that sdef offers include canoe convoys, music, and luminary events, which gives the public the ability to enjoy nature in different settings.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 36-2985870) · Dispute this lineSdef is restoring a shuttered golf course into a natual habitat for the purpose of a second location to provide nature education. Sdef will steward this land in perpetuity. In adddition, sdef supports habitat resoration efforts at severson dells forest preserve, which is owned and managed by the forest preserve of winnebago county.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 36-2985870) · Dispute this lineThe foundation promotes nature preservation and education programs by providing funding for the operation of the severson dells nature center. Severson dells engaged 4,121 students in school field trip programs either at their school site or at severson dells nature center.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 36-2985870) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2025 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 | FY22 | FY21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $2.9M | $2.4M | $2.5M | $2.2M | $2.6M |
| AddedLn 1b | $253K | $1.5M | |||
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $40K | $319K |
| Line | Start FY25 | End FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $554K | $672K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $2.4M | $2.9M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $1.2M | $1.2M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $4.3M | $4.9M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $20K | $39K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $4.3M | $4.8M |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $94K | $21K | $50K | $23K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $355K | $247K | $28K | $80K |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $14K | $5K | $6K | $2K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $42K | $17K | $18K | $8K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $63K | $25K | $27K | $11K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $26K | $7K | $13K | $6K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $4K | $924 | $249 | $3K |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $25K | $7K | $4K | $14K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $10K | $4K | $5K | $2K |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $25K | $8K | $12K | $5K |
| TravelLn 17 | $5K | $2K | $2K | $184 |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $4K | $3K | $1K | |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $6K | $2K | $3K | $1K |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $13K | $5K | $6K | $3K |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $203K | $203K | ||
| All other expensesLn 24e | $75K | $33K | $37K | $5K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $962K | $587K | $212K | $163K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Jun 23, 2026 | $1.3M | $962K | $292K | $4.8M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Jun 20, 2025 | $2.0M | $832K | $1.2M | $4.3M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 3, 2024 | $742K | $563K | $179K | $3.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Jun 2, 2023 | $612K | $424K | $188K | $2.6M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS May 23, 2022 | $814K | $489K | $325K | $2.8M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Apr 8, 2021 | $1.8M | $380K | $1.4M | $2.3M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $1,254,275 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, 1 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,254,275 across 9 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $962,455 across 16 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $4,854,389 assets, 13 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,815,430 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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