Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Severson Dells Educational Foundation

EIN 36-2985870 · Rockford, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND PROVIDE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$962,455
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
35.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
12
Volunteers
94
Highest pay
$101,818, executive di

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

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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. $147,058 spent. THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES NATURE PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SEVERSON DELLS NATURE CENTER. SEVERSON DELLS ENGAGED 4,121 STUDENTS IN SCHOOL FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS EITHER AT THEIR SCHOOL SITE OR AT SEVERSON DELLS NATURE CENTER.
  2. $290,326 spent. SDEF PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH CAMPS, FAMILY PROGRAMS, GUIDED WALKS, SCOUT PROGRAMS, AND LECTURES. OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT SDEF OFFERS INCLUDE CANOE CONVOYS, MUSIC, AND LUMINARY EVENTS, WHICH GIVES THE PUBLIC THE ABILITY TO ENJOY NATURE IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS. SEVERSON DELLS ENGAGED 7,251 GUESTS THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT THE NATURE CENTER THROUGH A SERIES OF GUIDED HIKES, CITIZEN SCIENCE, LECTURES, CAMPS, MUSIC, AND READING GROUPS.
  3. $149,946 spent. SDEF IS RESTORING A SHUTTERED GOLF COURSE INTO A NATUAL HABITAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF A SECOND LOCATION TO PROVIDE NATURE EDUCATION. SDEF WILL STEWARD THIS LAND IN PERPETUITY. IN ADDDITION, SDEF SUPPORTS HABITAT RESORATION EFFORTS AT SEVERSON DELLS FOREST PRESERVE, WHICH IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE FOREST PRESERVE OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

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 November 6, 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 December 1978.

    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 November 4, 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.