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.
$295K 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

FY2024 · 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
$295K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.9 months of spending in cash; under 1.
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
$268K
24% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 24% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
23
of 23 voting members
Looks good: 23 of 23 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.2M
+14% vs prior year
Spent
$3.2M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$851K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$3.2M
FY2024▲ +14%
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
$3.2M
FY2024▲ +3%
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
$851K
FY2024▲ +2%
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 FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2024 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% · $2.3M Management & general 20% · $629K Fundraising 8% · $257K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

27 people listed on the 990; $295K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Upstream Director
$101,725Pt VII · Sec A
Policy Director
$101,708Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$91,190Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$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.

See Conservation Minnesota executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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.

Questions for Conservation Minnesota

Tap to ask. Conservation Minnesota sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Conservation Minnesota answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2023
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.

$1.3Mprogram 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.

$877Kprogram 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.

$146Kprogram 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$13K
Money outPt IX
$3.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$629K
Fundraisingcol D$257K
Owns and owesPt X
$851K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$234K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$268K
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a23
IndependentVI 1b23
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$198K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$100K
Investment incomeLn 3$13K
Total revenueLn 12$3.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$234K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$234K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$268K
Net assetsLn 32$851K
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$307K$234K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$21K$10K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$233K$268K
Net assetsLn 32$834K$851K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$143K$143K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$100K$100K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$124K$54K$59K$11K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$849K$206K$180K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$53K$35K$10K$7K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$129K$43K$85K
Payroll taxesLn 10$106K$65K$27K$13K
Management feesLn 11a$348$348
Legal feesLn 11b$5K$4K$350
Accounting feesLn 11c$97K$97K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$13K$13K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$10K$10K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$260K$205K$55K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$116K$116K$198
Office expensesLn 13$318K$266K$19K$33K
Information technologyLn 14$41K$38K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$70K$35K$35K
TravelLn 17$24K$18K$4K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$34K$33K$821$9
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$10K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$3K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$222K$221K$90
All other expensesLn 24e$80K$72K$9K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.2M$2.3M$629K$257K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.0M$2.3M−$294K$557K 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $3.2M$3.2M$17K$851K 990 PDF
FY2023 $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

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,214,574 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,828,594$3,201,420
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,801$13,154
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,831,395$3,214,574
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $378,325$242,303
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,685,133$1,646,706
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $10,194$9,775
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,044,267$1,299,155
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,117,919$3,197,939
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$286,524$16,635
Part VI · Governance 23 of 23 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body23
VI-1b Independent voting members23
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 $3,214,574 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$475,000
VIII-1e Government grants$197,636
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,528,784
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$99,718
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,201,420
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $13,154$13,154
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $13,154$3,214,574
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,197,939 across 23 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $142,553$142,553
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $99,750$99,750
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $54,090 · Management $59,436 · Fundraising $10,818$124,344
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $848,668 · Management $206,229 · Fundraising $180,474$1,235,371
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $35,226 · Management $10,320 · Fundraising $7,159$52,705
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $43,350 · Management $85,364$128,714
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $65,322 · Management $27,343 · Fundraising $12,907$105,572
IX-11a Management feesFundraising $348$348
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $4,426 · Management $350$4,776
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $96,508$96,508
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $12,536$12,536
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $9,775$9,775
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $204,719 · Management $55,012$259,731
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $115,995 · Fundraising $198$116,193
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $265,553 · Management $19,342 · Fundraising $33,340$318,235
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $37,958 · Management $3,040$40,998
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $35,129 · Management $35,043$70,172
IX-17 TravelPrograms $18,157 · Management $4,150 · Fundraising $1,690$23,997
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $32,673 · Management $821 · Fundraising $9$33,503
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $10,348$10,348
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,582 · Management $7,187$9,769
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $221,491 · Management $90$221,581
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $71,726 · Management $8,734$80,460
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,311,904 · Management $629,317 · Fundraising $256,718$3,197,939
Part X · Balance sheet $1,119,322 assets, 11 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $360,843; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $306,829$233,542
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $50,000$482,636
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $26,644$31,952
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $20,697$10,349
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,067,717$1,119,322
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $233,417$268,387
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $233,417$268,387
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $165,860$134,692
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $668,440$716,243
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $834,300$850,935
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,067,717$1,119,322
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $850,935 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,214,574
XI-2 Total expenses$3,197,939
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$16,635
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$834,300
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$850,935

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.