Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Minnesota State College Student Association Inc

EIN 41-1804559 · W Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LeadMN (MN State College Student Association/MSCSA) is an association of Minnesota's public two-year college students, which works to ensure accessible, quality, and affordable public higher education while providing students with representation, leadership development, and communication across the state .

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
22
Volunteers
192
Highest pay
$94,499, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 7 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 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 (3)
  1. $631,746 spent. Leadership Development: LeadMN (MSCSA) educates student leaders through skill development trainings, leadership conferences, and one on one conversations to provide them with the tools necessary to raise concerns, identify solutions, and build coalitions of student administrators, staff, and faculty to implement change. This past year LeadMN (MSCSA) held four leadership conferences. Regular communications are also sent to senate presidents and student senate advisors across the state and LeadMN (MSCSA) visits campuses to train students around civic engagement activities and various leadership development skills.
  2. $84,244 spent. Advocacy: LeadMN (MSCSA) works to uplift the voices of community and technical college students on campus with key decision makers and in our communities. This past year LeadMN helped students register to vote and cast their ballots in a safe manner. MSCSA represents student interest at the college system, state, and federal levels. On the federal level MSCSA led a group of students to visit Washington DC to meet with federal lawmakers. Once a year, a state advocacy day event is held where students are encouraged to participate in meeting with state legislators and advocate for themselves.
  3. $179,966 spent. Scholarship & Emergency Assistance: LeadMN (MSCSA) raises funds and provides scholarships to students across Minnesota who demonstrate leadership on their campuses and in their communities. The Free College Scholarship--Mr. Warren H. Robens and Mr. Henry P. Dembiczak Scholarship program launched in FY2024, continued in FY2025 awarding $97,500 (18 recipients received either $6,500 for full-time students or $3,250 for part-time). This past year MSCSA continued operating an Emergency Grant Program to support students that have been impacted by the pandemic. Over 154 emergency grants for $100 were awarded totaling $15,400. There were also another 62 scholarships awarded totaling $47,750 to help provide financial assistance to students to help continue their college education and to provide recognition for their accomplishments.

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 August 1996.

    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.