Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES IS TO CONSERVE A NATURAL AREA, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. TO MEET THIS MISSION, THE NATURE CENTER ENGAGES IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 52
- Volunteers
- 411
- Highest pay
- $126,845, president an
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
10 of 10Gave 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 August 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 (1)
- $1.9 million spent. THE NATURE CENTER HAS LONG BEEN A LEADER IN PROVIDING EXCELLENT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. PARTICULARLY WELL- KNOWN FOR ITS EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULA FOR HEAD STARTS AND OTHER PRESCHOOLS IN THE AREA, THE NATURE CENTER PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND CAMPS FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN PER YEAR IN ITS CLASSROOMS AS WELL AS ON ITS TRAILS AND HABITATS WHICH SERVE AS ITS OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. THE CENTER REGULARLY EVALUATES AND MODIFIES ITS CURRICULA TO ENSURE THAT IT FULLY MEETS ALL OHIO ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS. THIS YEAR THE CENTER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS ELEVENTH YEAR OF APPLIED SCIENCE FOR KIDS (ASK) PROGRAM FOR THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT (CMSD), DESIGNED AT THE DISTRICT'S REQUEST TO PROVIDE SCIENCE EDUCATION AND UNIQUE HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR ALL PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, AND 1ST GRADE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. THIS YEAR, THE NATURE CENTER SERVED 3,720 CHILDREN WITH THE ASK PROGRAM. NCSL'S OTHER PARTNERSHIP WITH CMSD, THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR IN RESIDENCE (EER) PROGRAM, SERVES 4 CLASSROOMS OF 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS, EACH OF WHICH RECEIVES 20 CLASSROOM VISITS AND 2 FIELD TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. EER ALSO SERVES 5 CLASSROOMS OF PREK/K STUDENTS WHO EACH RECEIVE 12 CLASSROOM VISITS AND 2 FIELD TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WAS PROVIDED TO 164 TEACHERS. THE NATURE CENTER ALSO SERVED 356 HEAD START STUDENTS AND 24 HEAD START TEACHERS, EACH RECEIVING 4 PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE NATURE CENTER SERVED OVER 6,377 STUDENTS FROM THE CLEVELAND HEIGHTS-UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS AND SHAKER HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. OUR TEAM HAS EXPANDED OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS AGE DEMOGRAPHIC REACH TO INCLUDE HIGH SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS BY BECOMING THE OHIO HUB FOR THE NATIONAL YOUTH CLIMATE INSTITUTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. WE BEGAN WITH 5 CHAPTER SCHOOLS AND PLANS FOR EXPANSION. IN ADDITION TO VISITING STUDENTS AND PROGRAM ATTENDEES, WE HAD OVER 140,000 RECREATIONAL VISITS TO OUR TRAILS. THE NATURE CENTER WELCOMED NEARLY 25,850 VISITORS INTO OUR BUILDING. -SERVED 6,207 PEOPLE THROUGH FAMILY AND ADULT PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS. -SERVED 565 CAMPERS THROUGH OUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMP SUMMER PROGRAM AND 180 THROUGH OUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMP SPRING BREAK PROGRAM. -SPECIAL EVENTS WERE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. THE ANNUAL SUMMER BENEFIT HAD OVER 500 ATTENDEES AND GENERATED 109,475 IN NET REVENUES FOR THE ORGANIZATION. -OVER 824 VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS AND SERVICE-LEARNING GROUPS PROVIDED MORE THAN 9,911 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE IN LAND MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION, EVENTS AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF OVER 4.5 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, OR 344,804 WORTH OF SERVICE. -VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AT THE NATURE CENTER CONTRIBUTED TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (JOB SKILLS) AND OPPORTUNITIES. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE NATURE CENTER IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF CONSERVING THE LAND, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE, AND INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME AT ALL LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE INVOLVED IN PULLING INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES, DEMONSTRATION GARDEN MAINTENANCE, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMPS, EDUCATION CLASSES, WELCOME DESK ASSISTANCE, SPECIAL EVENTS ASSISTANCE, AND OFFICE WORK. THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WORKS WITH ADULT INDIVIDUALS, YOUTH (13 AND OLDER), HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PROJECT CANDIDATES, SCHOOL GROUPS (BOTH COLLEGE AND YOUNGER), AND CORPORATE GROUPS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AT THE NATURE CENTER. -IN SEPTEMBER 2017, THE NATURE CENTER LAUNCHED THE ENHANCING YOUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM CAMPAIGN - A MULTI-YEAR, 6.1 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE ITS TRAILS AND HABITATS THAT SERVE THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN ANNUALLY. CAPITAL PROJECTS COMPLETED BETWEEN 2018-2021 INCLUDED: THE NEW ADA-ACCESSIBLE LAVELLE FAMILY OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER; THE NEW ALL PEOPLE'S TRAIL BOARDWALK, A UNIVERSALLY-DESIGNED, ELEVATED BOARDWALK THAT IMMERSES VISITORS IN MARSH AND FORESTED STREAM HABITAT AND INCLUDES THE ROSE FOUNDATION GAZEBO AND OTHER EXPANDED GATHERING SPACES THAT ALLOW CLASSES TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS AND IN DISCUSSION AND OBSERVATION OF NATURE; RECONSTRUCTION OF BOARDWALKS, TWO BRIDGES, AND THE ADDITION OF AN ADA-ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE AND NATURE PLAY AREA, AS WELL AS A NEW WETLAND OBSERVATION DECK ON THE STEARNS TRAIL; AND AN ADA-ACCESSIBLE TREEHOUSE, COMMUNITY TRAILHEAD ENTRANCES, PARKING LOT RENOVATIONS, AND A NEW SUSTAINABILITY HUB TO HOUSE OUR LAND MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT. OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN A COMPREHENSIVE RESTORATION INITIATIVE TO REMOVE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES AND FOSTER BIODIVERSITY ON OUR SITE. WE HAVE NOW CLEARED OVER 8 ACRES OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTED OVER 9,000 NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS, AND ERECTED EXTENSIVE DEER FENCING TO HELP PROTECT THIS INVESTMENT IN OUR NATURAL HISTORY AND FUTURE. CONTINUING TO BUILD OFF OUR PREVIOUS WORK, FISCAL YEAR 2024 WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN FURTHERING OUR MISSION TO CONSERVE A NATURAL AREA, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. RESTORATION INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE HEALTHY URBAN TREE CANOPY GRANT AND EPA SECTION 319 STREAM RESTORATION GRANT WILL HELP US ADVANCE OUR MISSION. THE NATURE CENTER HAS LONG BEEN A LEADER IN PROVIDING EXCELLENT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. PARTICULARLY WELL- KNOWN FOR ITS EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULA FOR HEAD STARTS AND OTHER PRESCHOOLS IN THE AREA, THE NATURE CENTER PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND CAMPS FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN PER YEAR IN ITS CLASSROOMS AS WELL AS ON ITS TRAILS AND HABITATS WHICH SERVE AS ITS OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. THE CENTER REGULARLY EVALUATES AND MODIFIES ITS CURRICULA TO ENSURE THAT IT FULLY MEETS ALL OHIO ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS. THIS YEAR THE CENTER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS ELEVENTH YEAR OF APPLIED SCIENCE FOR KIDS (ASK) PROGRAM FOR THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT (CMSD), DESIGNED AT THE DISTRICT'S REQUEST TO PROVIDE SCIENC
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 2025.
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 December 1966.
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.