Passes our checks

Stearns County Fair Association

EIN 41-1803919 · Sauk Centre, MN

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

What it says it does

EDUCATE PUBLIC ON AGRICULTURAL MATTERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
5 of 25
5 of 16 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$232,379 spent. THE PURPOSE OF THE STEARNS COUNTY FAIR IS TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. THE FAIR IS A PLACE THAT GIVES ALL MEMBERS OF STEARNS COUNTY A CHANCE TO SHARE THEIR UNIQUE HABITS AND TALENTS AND PROVIDE AN EXPRESSION OF OUR COUNTYS PERSONALITY. THE STEARNS COUNTY FAIR IS ALSO A NOSTALGIC EVENT, BRINING BACK MEMORIES FOR THE PAST AND INTRODUCING THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO A GREAT TRADITION. FAMILIES COME TO VIEW THE VERY BEST IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND LIVESTOCK, AND TO EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT THEY WILL NOT EXPERIENCE ANYWHERE EXCEPT AT THE FAIR. THE STEARNS COUNTY FAIR ALSO GIVES COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND AGRICULTURAL GROUPS, LIKE 4-H, THE CHANCE TO ENTER THEIR LIVESTOCK AND OTHER FARM AND DOMESTIC PRODUCTS TEACHING A NEW GENERATION ABOUT THE VALUES OF FARMING AND QUALITY AGRICULTURAL WORK. PREMIUMS ARE AWARDED IN A VARIETY OF AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC CATEGORIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 2025.
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 August 2002.
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.