Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits informs, promotes, connects and strengthens individual nonprofits and the nonprofit sector.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 334
- Highest pay
- $203,310, executive director
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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 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 (6)
- $1.1 million spent. Education: MCN strives to provide educational events, networking opportunities, and publications that center equity and respond to the expressed needs, interests, and experiences of individual organizations to support the growth, health, and future of the sector and its people. In 2024, MCN sponsored approximately 70 public events with over 6,150 total attendees. The majority of MCN's workshops were offered virtually in response to member choice; however, we increased the number of in-person conferences from three in 2023 to four in 2024 to include the Greater Minnesota Summit held in Walker, Minnesota. Our Annual Conference was held jointly with partner organization the Minnesota Council on Foundations with registration across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors of over 1,300 people. The Joint Annual Conference, Nonprofit Leadership Conference, and Nonprofit Fundraising Conference each sold out. Our Finance and Sustainability Conference remained virtual and set an all-time registration high with 522 attendees. Other paid and free events focused on a wide range of topics including voter engagement, equity and justice, cybersecurity, mental health and inclusive practices in the workplace, board governance and financial literacy, storytelling for successful communications and fundraising, effective and healthy leadership, and more. In 2021, MCN introduced Pay What You Can (PWYC) registration for its Annual Conference to create broader access to this popular event. In 2022 we introduced PWYC for additional offerings, including Minnesota Grantmakers, Session Lineup, and the Finance and Sustainability Conference. In 2024 PWYC supported 509 people in participating in MCN's conferences and Minnesota Grantmakers event, and increase in use of over 234 people from 2023. In 2024, MCN continued its role as a researcher and publisher, releasing the annual 2024 Minnesota Nonprofit Economy Report, 2024 Current Conditions of Minnesota's Nonprofit Sector, Minnesota Grants Directory, and Nonprofit News, a newsletter providing information on sector trends and resources. Through its educational programming, MCN worked with hundreds of people from other nonprofits and capacity building groups to bolster interactive learning for Minnesota's nonprofit sector.
- $408,626 spent. Public Policy and Civic Engagement: MCN builds the capacity of nonprofit leaders to be confident and competent voices on issues impacting their constituents and communities by providing them with workshops, briefings, and other informational resources. MCN's Minnesota Budget Project educated nonprofits, decision-makers, the media, and the public on budget, tax, and economic policy issues through a range of activities. In 2024, MCN offered public policy training and information series attended by several hundred participants that included presentations on nonprofit advocacy, state agencies, nonpartisan voter engagement, as well as conversations with elected and appointed officials.
- $381,775 spent. Membership: In 2024, 2,219 charitable organizations (nonprofit membership), 236 businesses (associate membership, and four (foundation membership) contributed dues to support the full array of MCN's work priorities. MCN members receive discounts on publications, in-person and virtual workshops, and full-day conferences. Additionally, nonprofit members have the ability to post job openings on MCN's highly trafficked job board at no cost. In 2024, MCN members posted 12,141 free staff, board, volunteer, and intern openings on MCN's job board. Through the use of free member publication vouchers, MCN nonprofit members requested and received 909 free copies of regularly updated publications, like the Minnesota Grants Directory, Minnesota Nonprofit Salary & Benefits Survey, Minnesota Nonprofit Legal Handbook, Handbook for Starting a Successful Nonprofit, and Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence. MCN also capitalizes on the group purchasing power of its members to negotiate lower prices and better service on many products and services that nonprofits need, including banking, insurance, health plans, employee benefits, office supplies, payroll processing and more. In 2024, MCN added a new discounted phone and video interpretation service offering (LanguageLine Services) to its suite of member savings partnerships.
- $588,831 spent. Research: With the support of MCN's nonprofit members and charitable contributions from foundations and corporations, MCN studies nonprofit sector trends and shares this research with members, other nonprofits, decision-makers, and the media. In 2024, MCN shared information widely on Minnesota's nonprofit sector, demonstrating the economic impact of nonprofits on the state's economy through two published research reports, public presentations, media citations, and more. MCN also conducts nonpartisan research and analysis on tax, budget, and economic issues through the Minnesota Budget Project. The Minnesota Budget Project's analysis particularly focused on policy choices and economic trends that impact low- and moderate-income Minnesotans and communities of color, state budget and policy choices that impact access to prosperity and economic opportunity in Minnesota, the contributions of Minnesota's immigrants to the economy and local communities, and progress toward a fair and sustainable tax system.
- $294,417 spent. Advocacy: MCN undertakes nonpartisan advocacy efforts to strengthen the nonprofit sector and its ability to serve communities throughout Minnesota. MCN's major advocacy efforts in 2024 included advocacy in support of pay transparency, public availability of data on the nonprofit sector, and federal charitable giving tax incentives, as well as educating lawmakers on the impacts of: reforms to state grantmaking, and oversight of state grants to nonprofits. MCN's Minnesota Budget Project identifies and advances public policies to make Minnesota a place where all can thrive, especially in the areas of state tax, budget, and economic policy. The Minnesota Budget Project's 2024 advocacy priorities included implementing a family-focused system of advance payments of the state's Child Tax Credit, increased funding for outreach and tax preparation services to increase access to tax credits that boost the incomes of lower-income Minnesotans, increasing access to affordable health care and child care, and sustainable revenues to fund public investments.
- $187,898 spent. AmeriCorps VISTA: In 2024, MCN was awarded a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to build the capacity of nonprofits serving or led by BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities to overcome poverty. The grant allowed MCN to place up to 6 full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members at nonprofit host sites, providing the resources, capacity, and connections for these community-based organizations to ensure operational sustainability and grow their community impact.
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
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 December 2024.
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 June 1987.
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.
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