Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sugarloaf the North Shore Stewardship Association

EIN 41-1730982 · Duluth, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To inspire the preservation and restoration of the North Shore's unique environment through education and exemplary stewardship, especially at Sugarloaf Cove.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$315,322
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
73 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
5
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$51,806, 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 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 73.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 75% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 331% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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 (3)
  1. $136,197 spent. The organization operates and maintains the North Shore's only private, non profit nature center. Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, located near Schroeder, MN, offers public access to Lake Superior and a variety of educational programs and workshops about natural history and coastal conservation throughout the year. The site also serves as a demonstration site for forest restoration projects. Over 25,000 people visit the site each year and many participate in our educational programs. Programs offered include bird banding demonstrations, geology educational walks, Master Naturalist workshops, and guest speakers. In 2023 we began the construction of a new outdoor education which we completed in 2025.
  2. $55,318 spent. Sugarloaf is committed to the restoration of the North Shore forest of Minnesota. As part of this commitment, we offered a variety of invasive species and forest restoration workshops, and successfully procured funding for the North Shore Forest Collaborative coordinator position. Sugarloaf is a founding and active member of the North Shore Forest Collaborative (NSFC) and contracts with the coordinator. The mission of the North Shore Forest Collaborative is to revitalize and maintain a healthy and functioning ecosystem along the North Shore of Lake Superior with emphasis on restoring and maintaining native trees and associated forest communities. The Collaborative is a coordinated effort between local, state, and federal land management agencies as well as public and private organizations and individuals who want to work together to assure a healthy forest environment. Recent efforts include popular North Shore landowner workshops, a discounted tree fencing programs for landowners, and the initiation of a program offering private landowners a visit by a Woodland Advisor who tour their property and give them reforestation recommendations.
  3. $61,818 spent. Sugarloaf manages a reduced cost fencing supplies program for landowners in partnership with the North Shore Forest Collaborative. With funding from a private foundation and payments from landowners, landowners receive fencing and post which they use to protect seedlings they plant on their properties. This program is vital to restoring a healthy North Shore forest as approximately 75% of the property along the North Shore is privately owned. Through this program, over 90,000 trees have been planted since 2016 by private landowners.

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 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 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 June 1993.

    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.