Isle Royale & Keweenaw Parks Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 88 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Partner with the National Park Service to promote public understanding, appreciation, enjoyment and protection of the natural and cultural resources of Isle Royale National Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park through education, outreach and research. This is accomplished by providing high-quality interpretive products and programs, supporting the parks' interpretive, preservation, conservation and research activities.
- Income
- $239,230
- Spending
- $232,716
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 37.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 72%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $59,310, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 37.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 88 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
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 (3)
- $38,025 spent. Interpretive products and services. Stocked sales areas in four National Park Service visitor centers with high quality educational and interpretive products and assisted with staffing these areas. Fulfilled phone and online mail order sales. Employed a college intern during the summer. Published and wholesaled interpretive guides and books, including reprinted "A View from a Wolf's Eye," continued work on producing and revising "Fishes of Isle Royale," "Isle Royale Place Names," & the Isle Royale Lighthouse Logbook for future publication. Prepared for reprinting of "Charlie & Angelique Mott."
- $82,143 spent. Financial Assistance to Isle Royale National Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park. Funding was provided for: printing the 2024 Greenstone and Keweenaw Guide newspapers for distribution to park and area visitors; staffing three seasonal park interpreter positions at Isle Royale National Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park; travel and lodging for seasonal interpretive training; purchasing books for the interpretive library; revising and printing park brochures; acquiring supplies for family and youth programs, community events, and new exhibits, college students conducting research regarding the parks' mission and park management priorities.
- $59,809 spent. Member and Public Programs. Assisted park visitors with trip planning and on-site questions. Staffed booths at eight community outreach events. Offered two 6-day night sky photography workshops, one 6-day botany workshop, one 3-day botany workshop, as well as two service trips to remove invasive species and debris. Evaluated and awarded two research grant opportunities in the parks for college students. Conducted two fundraising campaigns, maintained donor records and the membership database. Published three editions of our newsletter "The Wolf's Eye" for distribution to our members and posting online. Maintained a website and a social media presence.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1963.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.