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Friends of Quarry Hill Nature Center Inc

EIN 36-3416399 · Rochester, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO OPEN EYES AND MINDS THROUGH NATURAL SCIENCE DISCOVERY.

Income
$723,384
Spending
$651,486
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
29.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
31
Volunteers
427
Highest pay
$83,991, executive di

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $482,869 spent. QUARRY HILL NATURE CENTER, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SINCE 1974, IS LOCATED WITHIN 329 ACRE QUARRY HILL PARK IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA. THE NATURE CENTER UTILIZES THE PARK'S RESOURCES (A POND, FOREST, PRAIRIE, STREAM, LIMESTONE QUARRY AND RESTORED OAK SAVANNA) TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE AND HANDS-ON NATURAL SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE THAN 100,000 VISITORS YEARLY. THESE VISITORS INCLUDE NEARLY 35,000 K-12 STUDENTS FROM ROCHESTER AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, 2,000 PARTICIPANTS IN SUMMER NATURE DAY CAMP, ADULT LEARNERS, BIRD WATCHERS, OUTDOOR RECREATION ENTHUSIASTS, SCOUTS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER GROUPS. THE SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED TO SCHOOLS TIE IN WITH MINNESOTA STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS. IN ADDITION TO SCIENCE CLASSES AND NATURALIST PROGRAMS, QUARRY HILL ALSO OFFERS SKI AND SNOWSHOE RENTAL, AN EXPLORATION HALL FEATURING LIVE ANIMALS AND EXHIBITS AND SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE NATURE CENTER IS ADMISSION FREE AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 360 DAYS PER YEAR. QUARRY HILL NATURE CENTER, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SINCE 1974, IS LOCATED WITHIN 329 ACRE QUARRY HILL PARK IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA. THE NATURE CENTER UTILIZES THE PARK'S RESOURCES (A POND, FOREST, PRAIRIE, STREAM, LIMESTONE QUARRY AND RESTORED OAK SAVANNA) TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE AND HANDS-ON NATURAL SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE THAN 100,000 VISITORS YEARLY. THESE VISITORS INCLUDE NEARLY 35,000 K-12 STUDENTS FROM ROCHESTER AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, 2,000 PARTICIPANTS IN SUMMER NATURE DAY CAMP, ADULT LEARNERS, BIRD WATCHERS, OUTDOOR RECREATION ENTHUSIASTS, SCOUTS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER GROUPS. THE SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED TO SCHOOLS TIE IN WITH MINNESOTA STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS. IN ADDITION TO SCIENCE CLASSES AND NATURALIST PROGRAMS, QUARRY HILL ALSO OFFERS SKI AND SNOWSHOE RENTAL, AN EXPLORATION HALL FEATURING LIVE ANIMALS AND EXHIBITS AND SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE NATURE CENTER IS ADMISSION FREE AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 360 DAYS PER YEAR.

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 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 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 February 1986.

    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.