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West Central Initiative

EIN 36-3453471 · Fergus Falls, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SERVING TO IMPROVE WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH FUNDING, PROGRAMS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. VISION OF A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD STARTS HERE IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

Income
$16.0 million
Spending
$11.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
38 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 37%
Employees
32
Volunteers
661
Highest pay
$210,752, president

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 38.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 June 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. $6.8 million spent. COMMUNITY AND FOUNDATION GRANTMAKING: AS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, ONE OF OUR ROLES IS TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE DEDICATED PERMANENT FUNDS THAT ADDRESS SPECIFIC CHARITABLE PURPOSES. WE CALL THESE FUNDS "COMPONENT FUNDS" BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF OUR MISSION AND ASSET VALUATION. IN FY25, WE ADDED 14 NEW COMPONENT FUNDS TO OUR PORTFOLIO. DRIVEN BY OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND CONNECTED TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, GRANTS ARE JUST ONE OF MANY RESOURCES WE OFFER TO SUPPORT OUR REGION'S FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES. WE AWARDED JUST UNDER $6.3 MILLION IN GRANTS DURING THE CURRENT YEAR.
  2. $1.7 million spent. PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH: OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE IS A NETWORK OF PARENTS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, FAITH LEADERS, AND POLICYMAKERS JOINED IN A LONG-TERM EFFORT TO PRIORITIZE THE CARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN. TWO IMPORTANT FACETS OF OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE INCLUDE OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD DENTAL NETWORK AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK. BOTH PROGRAMS TAKE A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO HELP ENSURE OUR CHILDREN GET THE CARE THEY NEED AND DESERVE. WE COMPLETED THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA IN SPRING OF 2023, AND WE ARE NOW FOCUSED ON PUTTING IT INTO ACTION THROUGH STAFFING AND OUTREACH, WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A SUSTAINABLE AND RESPECTED ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FUTURE. IN SEPTEMBER 2024, WE SPONSORED MORE THAN 30 WELCOMING WEEK EVENTS IN OUR REGION TO WELCOME AND CELEBRATE NEWCOMERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. OUR LIVE WIDE OPEN PROGRAM SHOWCASES THE OPPORTUNITIES, NATURAL AMENITIES, AND DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA, AIMING TO INSPIRE A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE REGION. OUR RURAL DEMOCRACY PROGRAM, IN A REGION CONSIDERED LEADERSHIP DISTRESSED, OFFERS TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR OFFICE, ENGAGES HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED GROUPS IN CIVIC PROCESSES, AND SUPPORTS LOCAL LEADERS IN PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFITS. OUR CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM COORDINATED A SOLAR PURCHASING CAMPAIGN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOLAR UNITED NEIGHBORS THAT EDUCATED 100 RESIDENTS ABOUT SOLAR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR HOMES; SUPPORTED 10 COMMUNITIES IN IN DEVELOPING SMALL-SCALE SOLAR AND ENERGY RESILIENCE PROJECTS THAT HAVE DIRECT COMMUNITY BENEFITS, LEVERAGING PUBLIC AND PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS; CONVENED MONTHLY MEETING AND EVENTS WITH REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS AROUND CLIMATE ACTION OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE MN REGION 4 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
  3. $711,721 spent. PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THROUGH OUR PLANNING, LENDING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORK, WE PARTNER WITH REGIONAL LEADERS TO CREATE VIBRANT, SUSTAINABLE, AND WELCOMING COMMUNITIES FOR ALL. AS THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR THE REGION THROUGH THE U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, EVERY FIVE YEARS WE CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE REGION IV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA. THE DOCUMENT OUTLINES THE NEEDS, GOALS, STRATEGIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR THE REGION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK. WE DISTRIBUTED $1.75 MILLION IN LOANS IN FY25 TO 25 BUSINESSES IN OUR REGION. THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WE ADMINISTER A TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROGRAM FOR WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THIS PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS FOR COORDINATED, LONG-RANGE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. NEW SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLANS WERE CREATED DURING THE YEAR THAT BENEFITED MORE THAN 340 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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