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Midwest Regional Turf Foundation Department of Agronomy

EIN 35-6045428 · W Lafayette, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MIDWEST REGIONAL TURF FOUNDATION (MRTF) IS TO SUPPORT TURF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE TURFGRASS INDUSTRY. TO THIS END, WE FUND TURFGRASS RESEARCHERS AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY, FINANCIALLY SUPPORT OPERATIONS AT THE W.H. DANIEL TURFGRASS RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTER, AND SUSTAIN THE PURCHASE OF TURF RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONS THROUGH ENDOWMENTS. WE CHAMPION STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND LEARNING ON CAMPUS BY FUNDING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. WE SUPPORT TURF PROFESSIONALS THROUGH REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND WE RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH ANNUAL AWARDS.

Income
$331,164
Spending
$351,892
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
0
Volunteers
18

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • 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 April 30, 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. $120,103 spent. EDUCATION: WE SUPPORT TURF PROFESSIONALS THROUGH REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. THESE OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE THE INDIANA GREEN EXPO, TURF & LANDSCAPE FIELD DAY, DIAGNOSTIC TRAINING, TURF & LANDSCAPE SEMINAR, AND THE HERBICIDE WORKSHOP. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH THE AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT AND THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WHICH ARE PRESENTED ANNUALLY.
  2. $167,710 spent. RESEARCH: PURDUE UNIVERSITY IS HOME TO ONE OF THE TOP TURF SCIENCE PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. THE MRTF FINANCIALLY SUPPORTS TURF RESEARCH AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY ON TURF SPECIES AND CULTIVAR STUDIES, MANAGEMENT TRIALS INVOLVING PESTICIDE AND BIOPESTICIDE APPLICATIONS, NUTRIENT CYCLING AND MANAGEMENT, DROUGHT SURVIVAL, AS WELL AS WEED, INSECT, AND DISEASE BIOLOGY AND CONTROL. ASIDE FROM MONIES DIRECTED TO FACULTY TURFGRASS RESEARCH PROGRAMS, THE MRTF FINANCIALLY SUPPORTS OPERATIONS AT THE W.H. DANIEL TURFGRASS RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTER AND FUNDS TURF RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONS THROUGH ENDOWMENTS.
  3. $6,750 spent. STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP: THE MRTF VALUES GIVING BACK. AS PART OF ITS MISSION, THE MRTF SUPPORTS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY THROUGH ONE ENDOWMENT AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES VIA A SECOND ENDOWMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 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 April 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 September 1951.

    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.