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Minndependent

EIN 41-1267531 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MINNDEPENDENT CONNECTS AND STRENGTHENS MINNESOTA'S PRIVATE AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS THROUGH PROGRAMMING, PARTNERSHIPS AND PUBLIC POLICY SO MEMBERS CAN BE STUDENT-CENTERED AND MISSION-DRIVEN.OUR VISION IS A VIBRANT EDUCATIONAL ECOSYSTEM THAT PROMOTES SUCCESS FOR ALL MINNESOTA STUDENTS.WE CREATE MEANINGFUL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS, EDUCATIONAL LEADERS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO BUILD EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOLS AND DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS.WE FOSTER AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDERS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON BEHALF OF MEMBER SCHOOLS, RESULTING IN GRANTS, IN-KIND SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES.WE ADVOCATE WITH A FOCUSED AND UNITED VOICE FOR THE INTERESTS OF PRIVATE AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, ENSURING THAT LOCAL AND STATE POLICY MAKERS WILL UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT STRENGTHEN MINNESOTA'S PRIVATE AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.

Income
$728,534
Spending
$698,507
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
3
Volunteers
62
Highest pay
$175,389, president

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $156,316 spent. MINNDEPENDENT EMPOWERS SCHOOLS TO FULFILL THEIR MISSIONS BY CONNECTING THEM TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING, SUPPORT AND KNOW-HOW TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THEIR STEM OR OTHER HIGH-PRIORITY PROGRAMS.MINNDEPENDENT'S STEM PROGRAM HAS THREE COMPONENTS: (1) STEM GRANTS THAT SUPPORT SCHOOLS TO CREATE, IMPROVE AND EXPAND STEM OFFERINGS FOR STUDENTS BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR MATERIALS, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, AND TRAINING; (2) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT PREPARES TEACHERS TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY AND EVIDENCE-BASED STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND (3) COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT ENSURE MEMBER SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.MINNDEPENDENT HOSTS AN ANNUAL STEM EDUCATION CONFERENCE FOR PRIVATE & INDEPENDENT SCHOOL STAFF. IN AUGUST 2024, 79 EDUCATORS ATTENDED THE STEM EDUCATION CONFERENCE. THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FACILITATES STEM PROGRAMMING AT SCHOOLS WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY PARTNERS, (SCIENCE FROM SCIENTISTS - 8 SCHOOLS), AND (WE SHARE SOLAR- 9 SCHOOLS). IN APRIL 2025, THE MINNDEPENDENT STEM GRANT PROGRAM AWARDED 17 SCHOOLS A TOTAL OF $47,918 IN STEM GRANTS. MINNDEPENDENT HAS AWARDED OVER $1.7 MILLION IN STEM SUPPORT TO MEMBER SCHOOLS SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2008.
  2. $141,667 spent. MINNDEPENDENT MEMBERSHIP CONSISTED OF 181 SCHOOLS SERVING 41,352 STUDENTS. TOTAL MEMBERSHIP CONSISTED OF 95 SCHOOLS THAT SERVE ELEMENTARY GRADES (K-8), 21 SCHOOLS THAT SERVE GRADES (K-12), 4 SCHOOLS THAT SERVE GRADES (7-12), 20 SCHOOLS THAT SERVE HIGH SCHOOL GRADES (9-12), AND 41 SCHOOLS THAT SERVE UNIQUE GRADE RANGES (K-12). SINCE 1976, MINNDEPENDENT HAS FOCUSED ON THE STRENGTH AND VITALITY OF THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA, A COMMUNITY THAT SERVES NEARLY 73,000 STUDENTS. WE RESPECT THE AUTONOMY OF EACH SCHOOL WHILE RECOGNIZING THEIR SHARED DESIRE FOR SUPPORT. WE BRING MEMBER SCHOOLS TOGETHER FOR CONNECTION, COLLABORATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, CRITICAL RESOURCE ACCESS, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.
  3. $107,893 spent. OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MATCHES SCHOOLS WITH EXCEPTIONAL CONTENT PROVIDERS TO INSPIRE LEARNING, FUEL INNOVATION AND CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION EXPERIENCES THAT CONVEY BEST PRACTICES AND ADDRESS CHALLENGES IMPACTING THE SECTOR. DURING 2023-2024, MINNDEPENDENT HOSTED 6 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS, AND CONTINUED TO PROVIDE TIMELY GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO COVID-19 FUNDING AND EQUITABLE SERVICES. MORE THAN 200 SCHOOL LEADERS AND STAFF FROM THE STATE'S K-12 PRIVATE AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN THE WEBINARS. THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER, 2024 AND ENGAGED SEVENTY SIX (76)SCHOOL LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. IN APRIL, 2025, MINNDEPENDENT HOSTED THE 17TH ANNUAL PRIVATE & INDEPENDENT EDUCATION AWARDS AND DISTRIBUTED THE FOLLOWING AWARDS: 2 - HONOR TEACHERS (K-12), LEADERSHIP (K-8) LEADERSHIP (9-12), COMMUNITY CHAMPION, BEHIND THE SCENES AND PROGRAM AWARD.
  4. $63,414 spent. MINNDEPENDENT PROVIDES A STRONG AND UNITED VOICE FOR THE PRIVATE AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN MINNESOTA AND PLAYS A VITAL ROLE BY ADVOCATING, DEFENDING, AND MONITORING ISSUES AND LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS PRIVATE SCHOOLS. WE BUILD STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH KEY CONTACTS AT THE STATE LEVEL, SIMPLIFY AND CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION IN STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE A WATCHFUL EYE TO ENSURE THE UNIQUE MISSIONS OF MEMBER SCHOOLS ARE PROTECTED.WE FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDERS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON BEHALF OF MEMBER SCHOOLS, RESULTING IN GRANTS, IN-KIND SERVICES, AND PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 March 1976.

    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 October 21, 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.