To empower people to build thriving communities and a vibrant region across central minnesota.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$604K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2022 · Form 990-TIndependent: 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
FY2024
latest Form 990-T
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $6.1M a year · 32% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$604K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $74.3M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 6.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $210K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$7.4M
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$18.8M
-39% vs prior year
Spent
$16.3M
To programs
89%
Net assets
$91.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$18.8M
FY2022▼ -39%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$21.8M
FY2021$30.8M
FY2022$18.8M
FY2023$10.0M
FY2024$15.2M
Expenses
$16.3M
FY2022▲ +73%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$15.3M
FY2021$9.4M
FY2022$16.3M
FY2023$9.4M
FY2024$15.7M
Net assets
$91.4M
FY2022▼ -9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$88.3M
FY2021$100.1M
FY2022$91.4M
FY2023$100.6M
FY2024$105.9M

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

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

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $14.5M Management & general 8% · $1.3M Fundraising 3% · $443K

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-T; $604K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President
$202,326Pt VII · Sec A
COO/CFO/Treasurer
$151,943Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President for Communi
$141,339Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President for Inclusive Entrepreneuership
$108,526Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
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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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

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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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $5.3M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Generositypartner Fund Performance

The community philanthropy team assisted the initiative foundation's 128 partner funds in facilitating 444 grants for a total of $1.7 million in awards across the region. Total partner fund grantmaking increased by 13 percent over the prior year, resulting in an increase of $215,000 in grants awarded in 2022.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Economyloans

The foundation approved 42 small business loans totaling $3,935,975 in 2022, including 17 microloans totaling $700,500 to diverse entrepreneurs. As a result of these loans, $44,527,000 in private financing was leveraged through other lending institutions.

$1.9Mprogram expense
03

Communitychild Care Solutions

Foundation staff continue to support improved access to quality, affordable, economically sustainable childcare through various strategies and partnerships. Our highest-profile initiative involves our relationship with three regional community colleges.

$1.3Mprogram 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$210K
Grants paid · 2,227 grants · $28.8M · 2020–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$230,000
Midnight Real Estate LLCFY2023$199,000
Asc Aquisition LLCFY2023$199,000
Oberg Roofing & Remodeling INCFY2023$195,000
R & L Repair INCFY2023$168,300
Eight05 Laurel LLCFY2023$119,999
Individual RecipientFY2023$100,740
Viva Tobacco & More LLCFY2023$100,000
Central MN Re-Entry ProjectMN · FY2023$80,000
Damsite Supper Club LLCFY2023$75,000
416 S 6th St LLCFY2023$70,117
Teeny Bubbles INCFY2023$69,767
David Koop EnterprisesFY2023$67,560
Moxie Ladies LLCFY2023$59,858
Waseka Hospitality INCFY2023$54,450
Tba Entertainment LLC (dba Pioneer Place on 5th)FY2023$54,000
Individual RecipientFY2023$52,500
See all 2,227 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2022 990-T, line by line.

1The main four
Money in
$18.8M
Gifts and grants$15.6M
Investment income$2.4M
Fees for services$696K
Money out
$16.3M
Programs$14.5M
Management$1.3M
Fundraising$443K
Owns and owes
$91.4M
net assets
Cash and savings$9.2M
Total assets$98.8M
Liabilities$7.4M
People
20
listed
Paid4
Voting board15
Independent15
2In more detail
Revenue in detail
Gifts and grants$15.6M
Government grants$9.4M
Fees for services$696K
Investment income$2.4M
Other income$107K
Total revenue$18.8M
Assets in detailEnd of year
Cash and savings together$9.2M
Total assets$98.8M
Liabilities$7.4M
Net assets$91.4M
Operations
Employees33
Volunteers240
Fiscal year endsDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyYes
Whistleblower policyYes
Records policyYes

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $15.2M$15.7M−$498K$105.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $10.0M$9.4M$670K$100.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $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

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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