True Friends FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Annandale, MN501(c)(3)Since 1985Recreation & SportsEIN 41-1543013

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Provide life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$231K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
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 $1.6M a year · 20% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$231K
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
Cash reserves
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $53K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.2M
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.5M
+22% vs prior year
Spent
$5.4M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$16.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$6.5M
FY2021▲ +22%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.3M
FY2021$6.5M
FY2022$6.6M
FY2023$13.3M
FY2024$10.1M
Expenses
$5.4M
FY2021▲ +14%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.7M
FY2021$5.4M
FY2022$6.9M
FY2023$8.1M
FY2024$8.5M
Net assets
$16.1M
FY2021▲ +9%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$14.7M
FY2021$16.1M
FY2022$15.4M
FY2023$20.7M
FY2024$22.4M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in May 1986.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $4.3M Management & general 2% · $123K Fundraising 18% · $946K

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

19 people listed on the 990; $231K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & CEO
$137,855Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director of Operations
$93,494Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

John Leblanc’s $170K as President & CEO is at the 8th percentile of top reported officer pay among 290 $10–100M recreation & sports 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
John Leblanc$169,800$162,529$157,545$137,855$102,138
Steven Piekarski$111,682$107,138———
Ruth Kewitsch$109,338$104,214$101,375——
Conor McGrath——$102,037$93,494$74,835
Steve Piekarski——$61,522——

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

Offers life-changing experiences to boost independence and self-esteem for people with disabilities.

Provided by the organization

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3 program services account for $3.6M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2021.
01

Residential campprogram provides opportunities for people with and without disabilities to enjoy the benefit from year-round, outdoor recreational and leisure activities offered at camp friendship, camp eden wood, camp courage and camp courage north.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Education and training servicesprogram provides experiential learning and environmental education services for schools, youth at risk, and other nonprofit groups and transitional employment and work related training for people with and without disabilities.

$845Kprogram expense
03

True stridesprogram provides hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, and horsemanship experiences for individuals with disabilities, both children and adults. The riding therapy takes place at camp courage.

$694Kprogram expense

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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$53K
Grants paid · 5 grants · $187K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$48,705
Unitemized GrantFY2023$63,272
Unitemized GrantFY2022$35,949
Unitemized GrantFY2021$28,526
Unitemized GrantFY2020$10,372

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$20K
Money outPt IX
$5.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.3M
Managementcol C$123K
Fundraisingcol D$946K
Owns and owesPt X
$16.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.1M
Total assetsLn 16$17.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$99K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$411K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Other incomeLn 4–11$20K
Gains on assetsLn 7$200
Total revenueLn 12$6.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.7M
SavingsLn 2$398K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12.5M
Other assetsLn 15$2.3M
Total assetsLn 16$17.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$16.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5385
VolunteersI 6219
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$2.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12.8M$12.5M
Total assetsLn 16$16.9M$17.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$14.7M$16.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$29K$29K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$258K$208K$4K$45K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.1M$1.7M$33K$370K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$274K$215K$5K$54K
Payroll taxesLn 10$135K$110K$2K$23K
Legal feesLn 11b$500$500
Accounting feesLn 11c$21K$21K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$30K$30K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$625K$509K$116K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$56K$32K$529$24K
Office expensesLn 13$448K$362K$13K$72K
OccupancyLn 16$236K$210K$11K$15K
TravelLn 17$7K$5K$129$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$661K$511K$22K$127K
InsuranceLn 23$312K$241K$10K$60K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$148K$141K$462$6K
All other expensesLn 24e$20K$18K$795$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.4M$4.3M$123K$946K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $10.1M$8.5M$1.6M$22.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $13.3M$8.1M$5.2M$20.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.6M$6.9M−$271K$15.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $6.5M$5.4M$1.1M$16.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.3M$4.7M$613K$14.7M 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 FY2021 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $6,519,865 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $45,729 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$411,321
VIII-1d Related organizations$601,728
VIII-1e Government grants$1,980,853
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,480,945
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$98,620
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,474,847
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,924,793 · Unrelated business $97,994$2,022,787
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,299$2,299
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $200$200
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$25,997−$25,997
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,924,793 · Unrelated business $97,994 · Excluded from tax $22,231$6,519,865
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,386,380 across 17 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $28,526$28,526
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $208,176 · Management $4,045 · Fundraising $45,454$257,675
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,725,287 · Management $32,922 · Fundraising $370,357$2,128,566
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $214,741 · Management $5,130 · Fundraising $54,077$273,948
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $109,760 · Management $1,822 · Fundraising $22,997$134,579
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $500$500
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $21,176$21,176
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $29,961$29,961
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $509,368 · Fundraising $115,535$624,903
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $31,643 · Management $529 · Fundraising $23,781$55,953
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $361,871 · Management $13,436 · Fundraising $72,271$447,578
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $210,459 · Management $10,803 · Fundraising $14,596$235,858
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,214 · Management $129 · Fundraising $1,203$6,546
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $511,312 · Management $21,797 · Fundraising $127,415$660,524
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $241,363 · Management $10,289 · Fundraising $60,146$311,798
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $140,970 · Management $462 · Fundraising $6,485$147,917
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $17,713 · Management $795 · Fundraising $1,864$20,372
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,316,903 · Management $123,335 · Fundraising $946,142$5,386,380
Part X · Balance sheet $17,252,878 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,202,857$1,667,647
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $598,538$398,385
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $183,038$157,549
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $90,307$76,287
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $57,522$124,247
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $12,763,262$12,515,870
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,053,477$2,312,893
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $16,949,001$17,252,878
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $508,168$407,764
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $670,190$597,828
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,215,695$1,155,507
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $11,830,868$13,237,679
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,902,438$2,859,692
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $14,733,306$16,097,371
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $16,949,001$17,252,878
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $16,097,371 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,519,865
XI-2 Total expenses$5,386,380
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,133,485
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$14,733,306
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$230,580
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$16,097,371

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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