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Tall Turf Ministries

EIN 38-1890465 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EQUIP YOUTH AND FAMILIES FOR LIVES OF RECONCILIATION IN GOD'S WORLD

Income
$254,530
Spending
$515,922
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
21
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$97,418, president an

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 103% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, 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. $438,534 spent. SUMMER YOUTH CAMP - CAPACITY FOR THE PROGRAM IS 128 YOUNG PEOPLE EACH SESSION. DURING THE CAMP EXPERIENCE, PARTICIPANTS SPEND TIME WITH THEIR PEERS AND STAFF WHILE EATING, SLEEPING, PRAYING AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS. AS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH SHARED SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP- FIVE DAY SESSION WHERE TEENS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH FELLOW CAMPERS AND STAFF. SENIOR CAMP FEATURES SUCH ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES AS HIKING, CAMPING, SWIMMING, CANOEING AND HIGH ROPES COURSE EXPERIENCE. SUMMER FAMILY CAMP HELD OVER A WEEKEND, SESSIONS ARE ORGANIZED AROUND CURRICULUM, BUT ALSO OFFER LOTS OF TIME FOR FAMILIES TO HANG OUT AND INTERACT. SUMMER LEADER IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM - MOTIVATING TEENS TO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES AND LIVE LIVES OF SERVICE. THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES PARTICIPANTS TO SERVE OTHERS, MENTOR YOUNG CAMPERS AND PEERS, INCREASE LIFE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND VARIOUS CAREERS. YEAR ROUND LEADER IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM - UP TO 10 LIT'S HAVE BEEN HIRED DURING THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL YEAR. FIREHOUSE KIDS - RUNS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH AGES 8 TO 13 TO JOIN IN WEEKLY ACTIVITIES, BIBLE STUDIES, MENTORING ACTIVITIES, SERVICE PROJECTS CREATIVE DANCE AND WORSHIP. SUMMER YOUTH CAMP - CAPACITY FOR THE PROGRAM IS 128 YOUNG PEOPLE EACH SESSION. DURING THE CAMP EXPERIENCE, PARTICIPANTS SPEND TIME WITH THEIR PEERS AND STAFF WHILE EATING, SLEEPING, PRAYING AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS. AS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH SHARED SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP- FIVE DAY SESSION WHERE TEENS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH FELLOW CAMPERS AND STAFF. SENIOR CAMP FEATURES SUCH ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES AS HIKING, CAMPING, SWIMMING, CANOEING AND HIGH ROPES COURSE EXPERIENCE. SUMMER FAMILY CAMP HELD OVER A WEEKEND, SESSIONS ARE ORGANIZED AROUND CURRICULUM, BUT ALSO OFFER LOTS OF TIME FOR FAMILIES TO HANG OUT AND INTERACT. SUMMER LEADER IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM - MOTIVATING TEENS TO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES AND LIVE LIVES OF SERVICE. THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES PARTICIPANTS TO SERVE OTHERS, MENTOR YOUNG CAMPERS AND PEERS, INCREASE LIFE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND VARIOUS CAREERS. YEAR ROUND LEADER IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM - UP TO 10 LIT'S HAVE BEEN HIRED DURING THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL YEAR. FIREHOUSE KIDS - RUNS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH AGES 8 TO 13 TO JOIN IN WEEKLY ACTIVITIES, BIBLE STUDIES, MENTORING ACTIVITIES, SERVICE PROJECTS CREATIVE DANCE AND WORSHIP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, 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 February 2026.

    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 May 1969.

    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.

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.