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Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance

EIN 27-0573238 · Red Wing, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 28% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROTECT AND RESTORE LAKE PEPIN'S WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, PUBLIC ACCESS, AND RECREATION FOR EVERYONE ALONG THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Income
$297,817
Spending
$301,906
Spent on programs
28%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$111,764, executive director

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    28% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $60,397 spent. OUREACH & EDUCATIONTHE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATION ON THE CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LAKE PEPIN AND REPORTS ON LOCAL RIVER CONDITIONS. WE HOST EVENTS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE THREATS TO LAKE PEPIN AND THE ROLE INDIVIDUALS CAN PLAY IN SUPPORTING SOLUTIONS. WE PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO AMPLIFY COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND WE DISSEMINATE RIVER INFORMATION THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND OUR E-NEWSLETTER.BAY CITY HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT - LAKE PEPIN LEGACY ALLIANCE SPEARHEADED A HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, FISH & WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND RECREATIONAL ACCESS AT THE HEAD OF LAKE PEPIN. THE PROJECT RELIES ON RESTORATION TECHNIQUES THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESTORATION PROGRAM AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED ON LARGE RIVER SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE.THE MAIN FEATURES INCLUDE: 1. DREDGING DEEP POOLS AND ACCESS CHANNELS, 2.CONSTRUCTING PENINSULA EXTENSIONS, AND 3.PLANTING NATIVE VEGETATION. EACH FEATURE ON ITS OWN CREATES IMPORTANT HABITAT, BUT TOGETHER, THEY WORK TO REDUCE THE WIND AND WAVE ACTION THAT STIRS UP SEDIMENT FROM THE LAKE BOTTOM. THE GOAL IS THAT WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS WILL SPARK ADDITIONAL ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS.
  2. LAKE PEPIN LEGACY ALLIANCE KERNZA FEST AND BENEFIT CONCERT - THIS YEAR, THE LAKE PEPIN LEGACY ALLIANCE'S (LPLA) ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERT WILL INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF KERNZA FEST WISCONSIN. THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT LIBERTY TREE FARM IN STOCKHOLM, WI, AND WILL CELEBRATE SUSTAINABLE AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE. FROM 4-5 PM, ATTENDEES WILL LEARN FROM A PANEL OF LOCAL FARMERS AND TASTE A RIVER-FRIENDLY MENU OF BEER AND BITES. THE EVENT WILL ALSO HOST BLUEGRASS-INSPIRED MUSIC FROM THE PISTOL WHIPPIN' PARTY PENGUINS FROM 6-9 PM. TWO FOOD TRUCKS WILL BE ON-SITE FOR MEAL PURCHASES
  3. $25,133 spent. WATER QUALITY TRACKING & MONITORING

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

  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 2024.

    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 November 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.

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.