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Belwin Conservancy

EIN 41-0967891 · Afton, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE CONNECTION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
-87.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
24
Volunteers
108

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

Fair: 61 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • 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 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 (2)
  1. $705,911 spent. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION/ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION - RESTORATION OF NATURAL COMMUNITIES THAT ONCE FLOURISHED IN THE ST. CROIX VALLEY, BUT ARE NOW ENDANGERED DUE TO HABITAT FRAGMENTATION, DEVELOPMENT ETC. VISITORS OF ALL AGES COME TO WALK THE 9 MILES OF TRAILS OF NATURAL LANDSCAPE ON MORE THAN 1500 ACRES. MORE THAN 10,000 STUDENTS, COMPRISED OF EVERY 3RD AND 5TH GRADER IN THE ST. PAUL SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,VISIT THE BELWIN CONSERVANCY EACH YEAR WHERE THEY ARE INSTRUCTED BY PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS. AS WELL AS RECREATION - BELWIN OFFERS THE COMMUNITY TWO TYPES OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE LUCY WINTON BELL ATHLETIC FIELDS WITH SOCCER, BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL FIELDS COVERS 50 ACRES. IT IS PRIMARILY FOR CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMS RUN BY THE ST. CROIX SOCCER CLUB AND ST. CROIX VALLEY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. THE HIGH QUALITY FIELDS WERE OPENED IN 1999 AFTER COMMUNITY LEADERS ASKED BELWIN TO PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING FACILITIES THAT WERE NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. PASSIVE HIKING TRAILS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND MAINTAINED BY BELWIN IN NUMEROUS PLACES ON ITS PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE LUCY WINTON BELL ATHLETIC FIELDS.
  2. $537,523 spent. ART, SCIENCE AND NATURE - BELWIN PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY, DIVERSE ART (AND SCIENCE) PROGRAMMING, BOTH PARTICIPATORY AND OBSERVATORY THAT WILL IN ALL CASES INCLUDE AN ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE THAT LEAVES PARTICIPANTS DELIGHTED WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND ENLIGHTENED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.