Tofte Lake Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TOFTE LAKE CENTER IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ARTISTS BY PROVIDING A NURTURING EXPERIENCE ROOTED IN NATURE WHERE ARTISTS OF ALL DISCIPLINES AND BACKGROUNDS FEEL SAFE TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE "WORK" OF ART TO PLAY, FEEL INSPIRED, AND BE REJUVENATED. VISION: TLC ENVISIONS AN INTERCONNECTED WORLD IN HARMONY WITH NATURE, WHERE ARTISTS ARE SUPPORTED AND CELEBRATED AND WHERE TAKING A BREAK IS RECOGNIZED AS INTEGRAL TO THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
- Income
- $323,257
- Spending
- $324,002
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 12.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $36,805, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $201,123 spent. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED ARTISTS FROM MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOTAL ARTISTS SERVED: 91, 66 FROM MN TLC'S SEASON CONSISTED OF 12 PROGRAMMED RESIDENCIES: TLC HOSTED THREE WEEKS OF INDIVIDUAL ARTIST RESIDENCIES FOR ARTISTS FROM ACROSS DISCIPLINES, GEOGRAPHY, BACKGROUNDS, AND STAGES OF CAREER, PROVIDING ARTISTS SPACE AND TIME TO CENTER THEIR CREATIVE PROJECTS, AND PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THEIR WORK WITH THEIR ARTIST COLLEAGUES AND THE LOCAL ELY COMMUNITY. THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD, TLC HOSTED THREE FUNDED RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. THE FIRST TWO WERE FOR BIPOC ARTISTS AND BIPOC ARTS EDUCATORS FROM AROUND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO SUPPORT AND FOSTER COMMUNITY FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR AND ENSURE THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME IN NATURE. TLC'S THIRD RESIDENCY FOR PARENT ARTISTS BROUGHT ARTISTS WITH FAMILIES UP TO THE LAKE TO CREATE IN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY, CONNECT THEIR CHILDREN TO NATURE, AND FOCUS ON THEIR WORK. THE WEEKS FEATURED A DYNAMIC MIX OF PLAYWRIGHTS, DANCERS, WRITERS, VISUAL ARTISTS, AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTISTS. TLC ROUNDED OUT OUR RESIDENCY SEASONS PROGRAMMING WITH THREE ORGANIZATIONAL RETREATS FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS (OCTOPUS THEATRICALS, MCKNIGHT DANCER & CHOREOGRAPHER FELLOWS, AND PLAYWRIGHTS CENTER), AND THREE GROUP RESIDENCIES FOCUSING ON DANCE (APRIL SELLERS), AND FILM (ELY FILM FESTIVAL FILMMAKERS) AND AN ALUMNI-LED WORKSHOP ENTITLED SHIFTING THE PARADIGM OF MOVEMENT TRAINING FOR DANCERS. TLC DEEPENED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ELY COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ELY ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING AS A SPONSOR FOR THE ELY FILM FESTIVAL FOR THE THIRD YEAR (OFFERING A WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY FOR 8 FILMMAKERS AS A PART OF OUR SPONSORSHIP), BRINGING ARTISTS TO CAMP NORTHERN LIGHTS TO LEAD WORKSHOPS FOR VISITING FAMILIES, AND HELD OUR THIRD WINTER RESIDENCY HOSTING 3 TLC ARTISTS AT CAMP DU NORD FOR A WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY EXPERIENCE ENDING IN WORKSHOPS FOR THE FAMILIES AT CAMP, AS WELL AS THE GREATER ELY COMMUNITY. TLC PARTICIPATED ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR ELY FOR ELY, A COLLECTIVE OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING THE COLLABORATIVE POTENTIAL OF, BY, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR POSITIVE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL IMPACT IN THE AREA, AND CONTINUED TO EVOLVE THE PROGRAMMING OF THE ELY CULTURAL ALLIANCE, WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE PLATFORM THAT EMPOWERS LOCAL ARTISTS, PRESERVES CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND ENCOURAGES COLLABORATIVE ENDEAVORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITYS IDENTITY AND VITALITY. TLC CONTINUED TO BOLSTER OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY NETWORKS OUTSIDE OF ELY, HOLDING OUR FIRST ALUMNI SHOWCASE EVENT IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH AN EVENING OF PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL MUSICIANS AND POETS AT ICEHOUSE IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND BY PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN TWO DIFFERENT NETWORKS, EACH PROVIDING RESIDENCY SUPPORT FOR PLAYWRIGHTS ACROSS A CALENDAR YEAR (FOUR SEASONS AND FOUR DIRECTIONS PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCIES). IN GOVERNANCE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CREATED TWO NEW COMMITTEES (FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES) IN ADDITION TO THE STANDING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE NEW CONNECTIONS AS TLC PROGRESSES TOWARDS EXPANDED ACCESS AND FULLER SUBSIDIES FOR ARTISTS ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC, RACIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, GENERATIONAL, GENRE, AND ABILITY LINES. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED ARTISTS FROM MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOTAL ARTISTS SERVED: 91, 66 FROM MN TLC'S SEASON CONSISTED OF 12 PROGRAMMED RESIDENCIES: TLC HOSTED THREE WEEKS OF INDIVIDUAL ARTIST RESIDENCIES FOR ARTISTS FROM ACROSS DISCIPLINES, GEOGRAPHY, BACKGROUNDS, AND STAGES OF CAREER, PROVIDING ARTISTS SPACE AND TIME TO CENTER THEIR CREATIVE PROJECTS, AND PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THEIR WORK WITH THEIR ARTIST COLLEAGUES AND THE LOCAL ELY COMMUNITY. THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD, TLC HOSTED THREE FUNDED RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. THE FIRST TWO WERE FOR BIPOC ARTISTS AND BIPOC ARTS EDUCATORS FROM AROUND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO SUPPORT AND FOSTER COMMUNITY FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR AND ENSURE THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME IN NATURE. TLC'S THIRD RESIDENCY FOR PARENT ARTISTS BROUGHT ARTISTS WITH FAMILIES UP TO THE LAKE TO CREATE IN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY, CONNECT THEIR CHILDREN TO NATURE, AND FOCUS ON THEIR WORK. THE WEEKS FEATURED A DYNAMIC MIX OF PLAYWRIGHTS, DANCERS, WRITERS, VISUAL ARTISTS, AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTISTS. TLC ROUNDED OUT OUR RESIDENCY SEASONS PROGRAMMING WITH THREE ORGANIZATIONAL RETREATS FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS (OCTOPUS THEATRICALS, MCKNIGHT DANCER & CHOREOGRAPHER FELLOWS, AND PLAYWRIGHTS CENTER), AND THREE GROUP RESIDENCIES FOCUSING ON DANCE (APRIL SELLERS), AND FILM (ELY FILM FESTIVAL FILMMAKERS) AND AN ALUMNI-LED WORKSHOP ENTITLED SHIFTING THE PARADIGM OF MOVEMENT TRAINING FOR DANCERS. TLC DEEPENED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ELY COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ELY ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING AS A SPONSOR FOR THE ELY FILM FESTIVAL FOR THE THIRD YEAR (OFFERING A WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY FOR 8 FILMMAKERS AS A PART OF OUR SPONSORSHIP), BRINGING ARTISTS TO CAMP NORTHERN LIGHTS TO LEAD WORKSHOPS FOR VISITING FAMILIES, AND HELD OUR THIRD WINTER RESIDENCY HOSTING 3 TLC ARTISTS AT CAMP DU NORD FOR A WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY EXPERIENCE ENDING IN WORKSHOPS FOR THE FAMILIES AT CAMP, AS WELL AS THE GREATER ELY COMMUNITY. TLC PARTICIPATED ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR ELY FOR ELY, A COLLECTIVE OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING THE COLLABORATIVE POTENTIAL OF, BY, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR POSITIVE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL IMPACT IN THE AREA, AND CONTINUED TO EVOLVE THE PROGRAMMING OF THE ELY CULTURAL ALLIANCE, WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE PLATFORM THAT EMPOWERS LOCAL ARTISTS, PRESERVES CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND ENCOURAGES COLLABORATIVE ENDEAVORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITYS IDENTITY AND VITALITY. TLC CONTINUED TO BOLSTER OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY NETWORKS OUTSIDE OF ELY, HOLDING OUR FIRST
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.