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Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Finland, MN501(c)(3)EnvironmentEIN 41-1251705Revenue $2.8M in FY2020

On file with the IRSwolf-ridge.org6282 Cranberry Rd, 55603-9727 · Finland, MNTax-exempt since May 1976School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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To develop a citizenry that has the knowledge, skills, commitment, and motivation to work together for a quality environment.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$145K 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

FY2020 · 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
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $254K a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 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
$145K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $169K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.2M
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.8M
Spent
$2.8M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$13.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$4.0M
FY2023$3.4M
FY2024$3.3M
FY2025$3.7M
Expenses
$2.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$2.0M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$4.1M
FY2025$4.4M
Net assets
$13.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$13.8M
FY2021$13.7M
FY2022$14.3M
FY2023$13.7M
FY2024$12.9M
FY2025$12.3M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending August 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1976.

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% · $2.3M Management & general 14% · $384K Fundraising 4% · $118K

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

18 people listed on the 990; $145K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Peter Smerud
President/Ex
$83,008Pt VII · Sec A
Kenneth Smith
Finance Dire
$62,397Pt VII · Sec A
Doug Connell
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Ron Sackett
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Nancy Schultz
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
John Thein
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Lee Thao
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Peter Smerud’s $115K as President/Ex is at the 40th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Peter Smerud$114,862$102,078$92,616$84,191$84,467$83,008
Kenneth Smith———$66,732$66,788$62,397

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

Educates people to work together for a quality environment.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Environmental Education

An accredited school that teaches children and adults about the environment.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Educational training for teachers in the field of environmental education.

$122Kprogram expense
03

Summer camp programs educating youth about the environment.

$75Kprogram 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
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFY2024$59K
The Minneapolis FoundationFY2024$25K
American Endowment FoundationFY2024$25K
Vanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramFY2024$16K
Mightycause Charitable FoundationFY2024$14K
Mankato Area FoundationFY2024$12K
West Bend Community Foundation INCFY2024$10K
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationFY2024$6K
Total grants receivedfrom 9 funders$169K
See all 9 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$61K
Money outPt IX
$2.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$384K
Fundraisingcol D$118K
Owns and owesPt X
$13.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$329K
Total assetsLn 16$15.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$305K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$51K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$31K
Other incomeLn 4–11$61K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$41K
Total revenueLn 12$2.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$152K
SavingsLn 2$176K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$329K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$978K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$13.4M
Total assetsLn 16$15.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$13.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 586
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$233K$329K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$978K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$13.8M$13.4M
Total assetsLn 16$15.5M$15.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$13.6M$13.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$210K$12K$198K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$821K$756K$25K$40K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$39K$39K$702
Other employee benefitsLn 9$192K$176K$13K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$63K$57K$3K$3K
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$13K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$51K$51K
Investment management feesLn 11f$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$42K$23K$18K$355
Advertising and promotionLn 12$30K$25K$128$5K
Office expensesLn 13$88K$79K$5K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$236K$206K$27K$3K
TravelLn 17$10K$5K$3K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$5K$5K$60
InterestLn 20$47K$47K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$622K$613K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$94K$92K$3K$38
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$231K$216K$10K$5K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.8M$2.3M$384K$118K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $3.7M$4.4M−$644K$12.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.3M$4.1M−$875K$12.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.4M$4.0M−$570K$13.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.0M$3.2M$779K$14.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.8M$2.0M−$203K$13.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $2.8M$2.8M−$8K$13.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,799,884 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,274,760$1,588,614
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,191,323$1,150,722
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $47,455−$9,933
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $153,797$70,481
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,667,335$2,799,884
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,628,809$1,326,410
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$51,222
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,023,872$1,429,996
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,652,681$2,807,628
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $14,654−$7,744
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
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 $2,799,884 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $59,281 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$304,920
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,283,694
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$51,100
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,588,614
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,150,722$1,150,722
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $30,649$30,649
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $500$500
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$40,582−$40,582
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $10,700$10,700
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,169,307 · Unrelated business $40,696 · Excluded from tax $1,267$2,799,884
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,807,628 across 20 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $12,212 · Management $197,747$209,959
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $755,772 · Management $25,459 · Fundraising $40,157$821,388
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $38,747 · Fundraising $702$39,449
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $176,058 · Management $13,223 · Fundraising $3,120$192,401
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $57,107 · Management $2,927 · Fundraising $3,179$63,213
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $4,309$4,309
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $13,100$13,100
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $51,222$51,222
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $3,626$3,626
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $23,436 · Management $18,381 · Fundraising $355$42,172
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $24,893 · Management $128 · Fundraising $4,830$29,851
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $79,241 · Management $4,895 · Fundraising $4,293$88,429
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $205,936 · Management $27,161 · Fundraising $3,040$236,137
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,261 · Management $2,895 · Fundraising $1,645$9,801
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,412 · Management $60$5,472
IX-20 InterestManagement $47,383$47,383
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $612,581 · Management $9,913$622,494
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $91,506 · Management $2,834 · Fundraising $38$94,378
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $216,166 · Management $9,515 · Fundraising $5,346$231,027
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,817$1,817
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,306,145 · Management $383,556 · Fundraising $117,927$2,807,628
Part X · Balance sheet $14,980,959 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $18,903$152,291
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $213,605$176,276
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $200,000$100,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $46,422$48,306
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $104,368$83,893
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $19,503$18,722
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $13,784,252$13,423,911
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,106,067$977,560
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $15,493,120$14,980,959
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $686,749$497,034
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $90,881$115,560
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $300,116$225,116
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,878,491$1,197,098
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $13,067,897$13,293,194
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $546,732$490,667
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $13,614,629$13,783,861
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $15,493,120$14,980,959
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,783,861 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,799,884
XI-2 Total expenses$2,807,628
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$7,744
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$13,614,629
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$81,435
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$95,541
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,783,861

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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