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Giants of the Earth Heritage Center

EIN 26-4545682 · Spring Grove, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GIANTS OF THE EARTH HERITAGE CENTER, INCORPORATED IN 2009 AS A NON- PROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, IS DEDICATED TO HONORING, PRESERVING, AND INTERPRETING THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE PEOPLE FROM SPRING GROVE'S NORWEGIAN RIDGE IN SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA. DRAWING ON RICH CULTURAL HISTORY, THE CENTER RECORDS AND REFLECTS THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND IMMIGRANTS TO THE SPRING GROVE AREA. THE CENTER DRAWS UPON VARIED RESOURCES, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A GATHERING PLACE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY TO ITS PUBLIC.

Income
$499,710
Spending
$301,852
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
1
Volunteers
41

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $269,559 spent. GIANTS OF THE EARTH HAS PROVIDED GENEALOGICAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHICH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE GENETIC TESTING DONE TO HELP UNDERSTAND THEIR HERITAGE AND FIND RELATIVES. THEY ALSO HAVE OFFERED MANY CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR FINE ART AND FOLK SCHOOL, ONE OF WHICH HAS A NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF VARIOUS AGES. GIANTS OF THE EARTH ALSO COMPLETED SEVERAL ORAL HISTORIES BOTH FOR THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VIEWING WHICH ALSO HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL HERITAGE BEHIND THEIR COMMUNITY, ETC.
  2. GIANTS OF THE EARTH HAS PROVIDED GENEALOGICAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHICH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE GENETIC TESTING DONE TO HELP UNDERSTAND THEIR HERITAGE AND FIND RELATIVES. THEY ALSO HAVE OFFERED MANY CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR FINE ART AND FOLK SCHOOL, ONE OF WHICH HAS A NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF VARIOUS AGES. GIANTS OF THE EARTH ALSO COMPLETED SEVERAL ORAL HISTORIES BOTH FOR THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VIEWING WHICH ALSO HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL HERITAGE BEHIND THEIR COMMUNITY, ETC.
  3. GIANTS OF THE EARTH HAS PROVIDED GENEALOGICAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHICH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE GENETIC TESTING DONE TO HELP UNDERSTAND THEIR HERITAGE AND FIND RELATIVES. THEY ALSO HAVE OFFERED MANY CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR FINE ART AND FOLK SCHOOL, ONE OF WHICH HAS A NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF VARIOUS AGES. GIANTS OF THE EARTH ALSO COMPLETED SEVERAL ORAL HISTORIES BOTH FOR THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VIEWING WHICH ALSO HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL HERITAGE BEHIND THEIR COMMUNITY, ETC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 2026.

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