Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of the Minnesota Valley

EIN 41-1427029 · Bloomington, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Protect/Enhance the Minnesota River Valley

Income
$33,731
Spending
$56,675
Reserves
18.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 68% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $47,615 spent. River Watch Program engages high school, middle school, and elementary school students in a multidisciplinary study of Minnesota's water health and management through hands-on, field based experiential watershed science. Schools across the Minnesota River Basin monitor the quality of their local river and stream, and investigate potential impacts to the water. The in-class and field activities are designed to prepare future scientists and stewards to understand the complex nature of water quality and advocate for solutions to improve the health of our most important resource.
  2. $3,523 spent. Agricultural Drainage Program Protecting the Natural Resources of the Minnesota River Valley is the mission of FMV. One of the most serious challenge in this area is dealing with fluctuating water flow on the main stream of the Minnesota River and major tributaries. A major effort during this timeframe is support for a project to monitor proposed increases in agricultural drainage and seeking to mitigate increased flow resulting from those projects. In many cases this effort has taken the form of seeking environmental review of the projects.
  3. $340 spent. Green Summer Youth Program includes a hands-on conservation-focused day camp program designed to supplement elementary/middle schools existing summer programs. Green Campers explore topics in water science, Leave No Trace conservation ethics, and carry out conservation service projects. Environmental Leadership Training is a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare high school students to become environmental stewards & leaders. The trainings build leadership & project management skills by enabling students to plan and carry out conservation projects related to their interests and expertise. Friends of the Minnesota Valley partners with the MN Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League to provide the Green Summer Youth Program.
  4. $1,158 spent. Friends of High Island is a project of the Friends of the Minnesota Valley and has been working to draw attention to the lake and watershed through the improvement of water quality and recreational opportunities. Expenses are related to maintenance of rain gardens.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 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 August 1982.

    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.