Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Aug 1986.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
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
20 people listed on the 990; $698K paid to officers and key staff.
Lynn Bushinger’s $205K as COO/CFO/Treasurer (former) is at the 34th percentile of top reported officer pay among 572 $10–100M community development 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 · 6 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn Bushinger | $205,443 | $151,943 | $132,138 | $119,830 |
| Matt Varilek | $134,549 | $202,326 | $198,200 | $199,701 |
| Don Hickman | $145,945 | $141,339 | $129,297 | $124,963 |
| Jeff Wig | — | — | — | $117,427 |
| Brian Voerding | $109,471 | $108,526 | — | — |
| Michele Miller | $102,859 | — | — | — |
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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Programs and updates
Empowers Central Minnesota communities by providing grants, managing partner funds, and offering training to foster regional philanthropy and economic growth.
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Economyloans
The foundation approved 33 small business loans totaling $2,643,304 in 2023 (including 12 microloans totaling $355,889 to diverse entrepreneurs). To strengthen and sustain our microlending network, we maintain funding and referral relationships with many partners, including economic development organizations, local and regional banks…
Generositypartner Fund Performance
The community philanthropy team assisted the foundation's 137 partner funds in facilitating 381 grants for $1.14 million in regional awards. Total partner fund grantmaking declined in 2023 compared to 2022 but remained strong overall. The 19 funds that hosted open grant rounds received 477 applications.
Community Child Care Solutions
The child care solutions program played a crucial role in improving access to affordable, high-quality child care by supporting qualified early care professionals. In 2023, $275,000 was allocated to partner organizations to promote economic growth through expanded child care options and a qualified early childhood workforce.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2024 990, line by line.
Download 990
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 Latest Viewing | $15.2M | $15.7M | −$498K | $105.9M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023 | $10.0M | $9.4M | $670K | $100.6M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $18.8M | $16.3M | $2.6M | $91.4M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 | $30.8M | $9.4M | $21.4M | $100.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 | $21.8M | $15.3M | $6.4M | $88.3M | 990 PDF |
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Schedules filed Part IV
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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