Conservation Minnesota FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Minneapolis, MN501(c)(3)Since 2002EnvironmentEIN 41-2017329Revenue $2.8M in FY2023

On file with the IRSconservationminnesota.org1101 W River Pkwy Ste 250, 55415-4853 · Minneapolis, MNTax-exempt since May 2002Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Conservation minnesota's mission is to turn our shared Conservation values into state priorities and provide you with the information you need to make decisions for your family, community and future.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$413K 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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FY2023 · 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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $48K a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$413K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $5K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$233K
22% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 22% 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
+3% vs prior year
Spent
$3.1M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$834K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$2.8M
FY2023▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$2.8M
FY2024$3.2M
FY2025$2.0M
Expenses
$3.1M
FY2023▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$3.0M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$3.2M
FY2025$2.3M
Net assets
$834K
FY2023▼ -26%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$834K
FY2024$851K
FY2025$557K

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 2002.

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

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $2.2M Management & general 20% · $636K Fundraising 8% · $249K

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; $413K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Upstream Director
$169,020Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$138,907Pt VII · Sec A
Policy Director
$104,989Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Andrew Goldman-Gray’s $103K as Upstream Director is at the 31st 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Andrew Goldman-Gray$103,144$101,725$169,020——
Paul Austin$97,535$91,190$138,907$131,080$107,307
Nels P Paulsen$101,725$101,708$104,989——

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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Advocates for conservation, providing information to guide family, community, and future decisions.

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3 programs · $2.2M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Public Education

Conservation minnesota provides credible, non-partisan information about current and emerging issues that affect public health, water quality, and minnesota's great outdoors so that individual minnesotans can make informed decisions that protect our health and natural resources.

$1.4Mprogram expense
02

Public Engagement

Conservation minnesota is guided by the priorities of minnesotans and engages its statewide network of over 70,000 individuals and local leaders with meaningful opportunities to help solve the conservation issues that they tell us are most important.

$574Kprogram expense
03

Public Policy

Conservation minnesota develops and advocates for public policies that ensure our cherished minnesota lakes, lands and way of life are protected for the benefit of current and future generations.

$309Kprogram 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
EcotrustFY2025$5K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$5K
Grants paid · 14 grants · $809K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$116,750
Environmental InitiativeMN · FY2024$53,000
Rainbow Research INCMN · FY2024$48,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$98,000
Springboard for the ArtsMN · FY2023$75,000
Environmental InitiativeMN · FY2023$32,500
Unitemized GrantFY2023$1,750
Unitemized GrantFY2022$76,500
Individual RecipientFY2022$75,000
Individual RecipientFY2022$75,000
Minnesota Land TrustMN · FY2022$40,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$9,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,600

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Money outPt IX
$3.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.2M
Managementcol C$636K
Fundraisingcol D$249K
Owns and owesPt X
$834K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$307K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$233K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$264K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Total revenueLn 12$2.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$307K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$307K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$21K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$233K
Net assetsLn 32$834K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 518
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$861K$307K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$31K$21K
Total assetsLn 16$1.4M$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$248K$233K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M$834K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$286K$286K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$92K$92K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$187K$81K$89K$16K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$938K$222K$83K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$57K$40K$13K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$95K$43K$46K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$104K$75K$22K$7K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$87K$87K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$38K$38K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$10K$10K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$382K$311K$71K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$66K$66K$360
Office expensesLn 13$289K$154K$20K$115K
Information technologyLn 14$51K$30K$18K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$37K$25K$9K$3K
TravelLn 17$13K$5K$8K$30
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$27K$13K$14K$160
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$10K$7K$2K$724
InsuranceLn 23$7K$5K$2K$520
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$16K$15K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$18K$9K$8K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.1M$2.2M$636K$249K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.0M$2.3M−$294K$557K 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.2M$3.2M$17K$851K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $2.8M$3.1M−$287K$834K 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.7M$3.0M−$299K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.4M$1.7M$622K$1.4M 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,831,395 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,739,310$2,828,594
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,760$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,324$2,801
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $3,655$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,749,049$2,831,395
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $21,500$378,325
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,489,087$1,685,133
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $11,454$10,194
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,525,531$1,044,267
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,047,572$3,117,919
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$298,523−$286,524
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 $2,831,395 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$800,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,028,594
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$264,136
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,828,594
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,801$2,801
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,801$2,831,395
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,117,919 across 22 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $286,225$286,225
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $92,100$92,100
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $81,159 · Management $89,279 · Fundraising $16,221$186,659
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $937,524 · Management $222,176 · Fundraising $82,942$1,242,642
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $39,519 · Management $13,203 · Fundraising $3,958$56,680
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $42,724 · Management $46,057 · Fundraising $6,618$95,399
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $74,514 · Management $21,943 · Fundraising $7,296$103,753
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $2,873$2,873
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $86,552$86,552
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $37,500$37,500
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $10,194$10,194
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $311,232 · Management $70,789$382,021
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $65,809 · Fundraising $360$66,169
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $154,484 · Management $19,662 · Fundraising $114,913$289,059
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $29,999 · Management $18,340 · Fundraising $2,431$50,770
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $25,423 · Management $8,874 · Fundraising $2,543$36,840
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,439 · Management $7,888 · Fundraising $30$13,357
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $12,939 · Management $14,066 · Fundraising $160$27,165
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $7,244 · Management $2,380 · Fundraising $724$10,348
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $5,202 · Management $1,709 · Fundraising $520$7,431
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,615 · Management $1,744$16,359
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $9,451 · Management $8,372$17,823
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,233,102 · Management $635,907 · Fundraising $248,910$3,117,919
Part X · Balance sheet $1,067,717 assets, 11 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $663,547; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $861,078$306,829
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $101,000$50,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $14,643$26,644
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $31,045$20,697
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,369,049$1,067,717
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $248,225$233,417
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $248,225$233,417
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $270,779$165,860
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $850,045$668,440
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,120,824$834,300
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,369,049$1,067,717
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $834,300 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,831,395
XI-2 Total expenses$3,117,919
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$286,524
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,120,824
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$834,300

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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