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Minnesota Chamber Foundation

EIN 41-1453093 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO BRING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO PROMOTE PROSPERITY AND LONG-TERM GROWTH OF MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
3
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$609,763, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 18 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.

  • 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $362,084 spent. ECONOMIC RESEARCH: IN FEBRUARY OF 2025, THE MINNESOTA CHAMBER FOUNDATION RELEASED A "SCORECARD" ON MINNESOTA'S ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING SYSTEM. THIS REPORT, AS A FOLLOW UP TO AN EXTENSIVE STUDY THE PREVIOUS YEAR, MEASURED THE PROGRESS ON THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY IN EXPEDITING THE PERMITTING PROCESS IN THE STATE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION RELEASED THE 2026 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, COMPARING MINNESOTA'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
  2. $194,100 spent. CENTER FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS THE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PRIVATE SECTOR SOLUTIONS TO THE WORKFORCE CHALLENGE FACING MINNESOTA EMPLOYERS. THE CENTER HAS MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS. THE FIRST, IS THE BUSINESS EDUCATION NETWORK (BEN) FORMED IN 2015. BEN IS A PRIVATE-SECTOR SOLUTION TO EMPLOYERS' URGENT NEED TO FIND SKILLED, QUALIFIED AND READY WORKERS FOR JOBS AVAILABLE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE. BEN PARTNERS ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED WAY OF THE TWIN CITIES TO EXPAND CAREER PATHWAYS IN 2024 AND THAT WORK CONTINUED IN 2025. THE CENTER IS ALSO HOME TO THE FOUNDATION'S WORKFORCE INCLUSION INITIATIVE. RESOURCES AND CONSULTING ARE PROVIDED FOR EMPLOYERS ACROSS MINNESOTA. THE INCLUSIVE LEADER'S ALLIANCE WAS LAUNCHED LAST YEAR. ANOTHER AREA OF FOCUS IS HIGHLIGHTING AND ADVANCING THE ROLE OF NEW AMERICANS TO MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, BOTH AS WORKERS AND ENTREPRENEURS.
  3. $337,033 spent. GROW MINNESOTA! GROW MINNESOTA! IS A STATEWIDE BUSINESS AND RETENTION INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. GROW MINNESOTA! WAS INTEGRATED INTO THE FOUNDATION IN 2025 TO ALIGN WITH THE GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION, AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. GROW MINNESOTA! PRODUCED A REPORT ON THE STATE OF BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION IN MINNESOTA AS A RESULT OF HUNDREDS OF MEETINGS WITH BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES ONE ON ONE ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES AND WELL AS RESOURCES TO HELP BUSINESSES LOCATE AND GROW IN MINNESOTA. THE FOUNDATION ALSO IS THE HOME TO LEADERSHIP MINNESOTA AND LEADERS LAB, WHICH ARE EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EMERGING LEADERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND MINNESOTA'S DIVERSE ECONOMY. A COHORT OF LEADERS IS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM ANNUALLY.FINALLY, THE FOUNDATION HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS AND WEBINARS ANNUALLY TO EDUCATE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ON ISSUES AROUND THE ECONOMY AND WORKFORCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.