Northland College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $24.9 million
- Spending
- $27.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -13.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 54%
- Employees
- 470
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $212,783, president (thru feb. 25')
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (6)
- $12.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION:NORTHLAND'S FACULTY-DESIGNED CURRICULUM INTEGRATES THE COLLEGE'S ENVIRONMENTAL MISSION ACROSS ALL FIELDS OF STUDY AND IS A CAREER-FOCUSED CURRICULUM. NINETY-TWO PERCENT OF NORTHLAND GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED OR IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, HAVING DEVELOPED THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO PREPARE FOR ADVANCED STUDY AND MEANINGFUL LIVES. THE COLLEGE HAS LAUNCHED SCIENTISTS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS IN ALMOST EVERY FIELD IMAGINABLE AND HAS PROVIDED GRADUATES WITH THE TOOLS, CONFIDENCE, AND VISION TO BE COMPETITIVE IN A GREENER WORLD ECONOMY.STUDENTS AT NORTHLAND CAN TAKE COURSES IN MORE THAN 40 ACADEMIC FIELDS OF STUDY. IMPRESSIVE FOR A TINY BUT MIGHTY SCHOOL ON THE SHORES OF THE BIG LAKE GITCHI GAMI (OJIBWE FOR "GREAT SEA"). NORTHLAND'S 550+ STUDENTS CAN EXPLORE CLIMATE CHANGE STUDIES, HUMANITY AND NATURE STUDIES, NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES, SIX PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, WATER SCIENCE, AND MORE. FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS MORE DEEPLY ON LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM THROUGH NORTHLAND'S SIGNATURE SUPERIOR CONNECTIONS AND GROWING CONNECTIONS PROGRAMS.THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION HAS RECOGNIZED NORTHLAND FOR ITS SUSTAINABILITY CURRICULUM. THE AASHE SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS INDEX RECOGNIZES TOP-PERFORMING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN 17 SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT AREAS; CURRICULUM IS ONE OF THEM AND INCLUDES COURSES, PROGRAMS, LEARNING OUTCOMES IN SUSTAINABILITY, LIVING LABORATORY INITIATIVES, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, SUSTAINABILITY LITERACY, AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT. EVERY ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT AT NORTHLAND OFFERS SUSTAINABILITY COURSES, AND THERE ARE SEVEN MAJORS AND MINORS SPECIFIC TO SUSTAINABILITY, SUCH AS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ONE OF THE ONLY OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION. THIS PROGRAM CEASED OPERATIONS IN MAY OF 2025.
- $3.9 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES:SERVICES PROVIDED TO NORTHLAND COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THEIR SUCCESSFUL LIVING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES AT THE COLLEGE. SERVICES INCLUDE HEALTH SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING AND A STRONG AFFILIATION WITH A LOCAL MEDICAL CLINIC RUN BY A NORTHLAND COLLEGE ALUMNUS, ACCOMMODATIONS, AND SAFETY AND SECURITY. STUDENTS ALSO FIND SUPPORT AT AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN CAMPUS-WIDE ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.IN ADDITION, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND ATHLETICS. THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF NORTHLAND STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETICS, AND THERE ARE NEARLY 20 CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS. MOST NOTABLE IS THE NORTHLAND COLLEGE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (NCSA). FOUNDED IN 1970, NCSA IS THE ONLY STUDENT-RUN CAMPUS GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN THAT DETERMINES ITS OWN BUDGET AND MANAGES ITS OWN FINANCES. THE GROUP IS A 501(C)(4) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION RUN COMPLETELY BY STUDENTS THAT IMPACTS THE COLLEGE, AND THE WORLD, ON A REGULAR BASIS. FOR EXAMPLE, EFFORTS STEMMING FROM NCSA LED NORTHLAND TO FULLY DIVEST FROM FOSSIL FUELS.OTHER CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE INCLUDE: THE 4TH WALL (DRAMA), THE ALLIANCE (LGBT2QAI AWARENESS), AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY, AMERICAN INDIAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SOCIETY, FIRE CREW, FOOD RECOVERY NETWORK, MULTICULTURAL CLUB, NORDIC SKI CLUB, SAILING CLUB, STUDENT PUBLICATIONS (NEWSPAPER, LITERARY JOURNAL, AND YEARBOOK), AND WEATHER CLUB. THIS PROGRAM CEASED OPERATIONS IN MAY OF 2025.
- $3.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES:NORTHLAND'S ON CAMPUS AUXILIARY SERVICES INCLUDE THE BOOKSTORE, DINING SERVICE, AND RESIDENCE HALLS.THE COLLEGE COLLABORATES WITH CHARTWELLS HIGHER ED TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE DINING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS. INITIATIVES INCLUDE TRAY-LESS DINING TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE; DIVERTING FOOD SCRAPS FROM THE LANDFILL THROUGH THE CAMPUS COMPOSTING PROGRAM; AND PROCURING MEAT, PRODUCE, AND DRY GOODS FROM REGIONAL FARMERS AND BUSINESSES AND THE CAMPUS GARDENS. THE COLLEGE HAS ALSO SIGNED THE REAL FOOD CHALLENGE AND ADOPTED REAL FOOD STANDARDS, WHICH VALUE THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, ORGANIC FOODS, FAIR LABOR STANDARDS, AND LOCAL SOURCING AS METRICS FOR EVALUATING THE FOOD NORTHLAND PURCHASES. APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT OF NORTHLAND COLLEGE STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS IN ONE OF FIVE RESIDENCE HALLS OR IN THE TOWNHOUSE APARTMENTS. THE MCLEAN ENVIRONMENTAL LIVING AND LEARNING CENTER (MELLC) RESIDENCE HALL IS A CAMPUS FAVORITE, NAMED AFTER A BELOVED FORMER PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE. THE CENTER HAS BEEN LAUDED NATIONWIDE FOR ITS ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN. IT FEATURES SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES, A 120-FOOT WIND TURBINE, PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAYS, AND A GREENHOUSE. THIS PROGRAM CEASED OPERATIONS IN MAY OF 2025.
- $1.1 million spent. RESEARCH:FACULTY RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP, AND STUDENT-FACULTY RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP, IS A VIBRANT PART OF THE NORTHLAND COLLEGE CULTURE, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR A TINY (BUT MIGHTY) SCHOOL. NORTHLAND FACULTY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND ABOUT CARRYING OUT NORTHLAND'S MISSION THROUGH TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP, AND SERVICE TO THE COLLEGE. THEY OFTEN EXTEND THEIR STUDENTS' LEARNING BY INVOLVING THEM IN THEIR RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECTS, CLASSROOM AND LABORATORY EXPERIENCES, INDEPENDENT STUDY, WORK STUDY JOBS, AND EXTERNALLY SPONSORED PAID RESEARCH POSITIONS FUNDED BY REGIONAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF NORTHLAND GRADUATES WORK ON A RESEARCH OR SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT WITH FACULTY, WHICH OUTPACES THE COLLEGE'S COMPETITOR SCHOOLS BY MORE THAN 20 PERCENT.IN 2020, NORTHLAND FACULTY AND STUDENT GRADUATES PUBLISHED A PAPER ABOUT GLOW-IN-THE DARK PLATYPUSES. AFTER THEIR DISCOVERY OF PINK FLUORESCING FLYING SQUIRRELS IN 2019, A HANDFUL OF NORTHLAND PROFESSORS AND TWO CAPSTONE STUDENTS RESEARCHED OTHER ANIMALS THAT MIGHT GLOW IN THE DARK. ON A RESEARCH FINDING TRIP TO THE FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY IN CHICAGO, THE PROFESSORS DISCOVERED THAT THE BROWNISH COATS OF PLATYPUS SPECIMENS GLOWED BLUE. THE FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCH FINDINGS, PUBLISHED OCTOBER 15, 2020, IN MAMMALIA, HAVE FOREVER CHANGED THE WAY SCIENTISTS THINK ABOUT THESE SEEMINGLY DULL BROWN-COATED ANIMALS. THIS PROGRAM CEASED OPERATIONS IN MAY OF 2025.
- $898,154 spent. PUBLIC SERVICE:NORTHLAND COLLEGE'S SIGURD OLSON ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE (SOEI), MARY GRIGGS BURKE CENTER FOR FRESHWATER INNOVATION, INDIGENOUS CULTURES CENTER (ICC), AND HULINGS RICE FOOD CENTER OFFER COURSES THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND, INTERNSHIPS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY EFFORTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO SERVE THE REGION VIA GRANT-FUNDED, EXPERIENTIAL PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY. FINAL YEAR - ENDED 5-23-2025
- $841,866 spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT:ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE ACADEMIC DEAN'S OFFICE, DEXTER LIBRARY, AND EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. SOME OF THE SERVICES THE DEAN'S OFFICE PROVIDES IS OVERSIGHT OF FACULTY RECRUITING AND ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP APPOINTMENTS, STUDENT ADVISING AND TUTORING, STUDENT INTERNSHIP AND CAREER ADVISING, AND OFF CAMPUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.NORTHLAND'S OFF CAMPUS LEARNING PROGRAMS ALLOW STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SEMESTERS AWAY IN REGIONS AND COUNTRIES WHOSE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURES PRESENT UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. NORTHLAND OFFERS THESE EXPERIENCES THROUGH CLASSES OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ECOLEAGUE, OUTWARD BOUND, NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL, WILD ROCKIES FIELD INSTITUTE, HIGHER EDUCATION CONSORTIUM FOR URBAN AFFAIRS, CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL LIVING AND LEARNING, KANSAI GAIDAI UNIVERSITY, ROUND RIVER CONSERVATION STUDIES, AND UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW. FINAL YEAR - ENDED 5-23-2025
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
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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 September 1932.
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 October 21, 2026.
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