Lake Street Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Lake Street Council engages, serves, and advocates for the Lake Street business community in Minneapolis to ensure the vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor. The Lake Street Council fosters economic vitality and amplifies Lake Street's vibrancy to create a thriving and livable commercial corridor.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 13.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $120,500, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% 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 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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)
- $821,413 spent. Technical Assistance and Small Business Advising: The Lake Street Council provides small business advising in English, Spanish, and Somali. In 2024, our focus has moved to providing vital support to small businesses and entrepreneurs still struggling to succeed under challenging circumstances. We launched a workshop series focused on maintaining financial documentation, building credit, and planning for business expansion. We provided grants to businesses to improve their properties. We supported businesses through road construction.
- $270,909 spent. We Love Lake Street (WLLA) Recovery Fund: In late May 2020, civil unrest erupted in the Lake Street corridor. More than 400 businesses were looted, damaged, or destroyed by fire in the aftermath. The events that unfolded during those weeks have had a deep and lasting impact on Lake Street. The broader community came together to support these impacted businesses, and the WLLS recovery fund raised more than $12 million dollars in a matter of weeks. The purpose of the WLLS recovery fund is to support the recovery of businesses and nonprofit organizations in the Lake Street corridor. To facilitate the distribution of funds, we created the WLLS recovery fund oversight committee (the "oversight committee"), which includes local leaders with a history of supporting Lake Street's diverse business community. The oversight committee was charged with making decisions about funding priorities and guidelines. The oversight committee's subcommittees decided who received funding and in what amount. In 2024 this fund continued to invest in grants and forgivable loans to displaced businesses that were seeking to reopen, to entrepreneurs who owned demolished properties who were seeking predevelopment support to start the process of rebuilding, and to community nonprofits that sought to redevelop demolished property to provide affordable commercial space for local small businesses.
- $177,596 spent. Visitor Attraction and Placemaking Initiative: Through community activation events and millions of impressions online in the past year, we have uplifted individual businesses, highlighted our successes, and supported our partners. Our Lake Street Reimagined program continues to bring people out to discover and support Lake Street while creating opportunities for local artists. We provided funding for 20 murals, four sculptures and standalone installations, and two vinyl art installations.
- $175,935 spent. Corridor Promotion: Attracted customers to the area through promotion of the Lake Street corridor.
- $5,000 spent. Fiscal Sponsorship: If a nonprofit organization has not yet received its 501(c)(3) status, it could operate under Lake Street Council as their fiscal sponsor who accepted donations and managed funds on its behalf allowing the program to begin work while awaiting tax-exempt approval.
- Community Engagement: Lake Street Council ("LSC") supports the Lake Street community in Minneapolis to ensure the vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor and its 16 surrounding neighborhoods. We engage entrepreneurs, employees, residents, and institutional stakeholders in programs that promote economic development. As the main business association for Lake Street, we regularly hear from business and property owners throughout the corridor about the concerns that matter to them, and our priorities shift to reflect the needs of the moment. Our core programs include community engagement through small business advising, visitor attraction, placemaking initiatives, and financial relief for small businesses and nonprofits.
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 July 2010.
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.