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Deer Lake Association of Itasca County

EIN 41-1853300 · Minneapolis, 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

THE DEER LAKE ASSOCIATION (DLA) IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION SERVING AS STEWARD FOR DEER LAKE, A PUBLIC WATER BODY OWNED BY THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA. DLA IS ORGANIZED PRIMARILY TO CONSERVE AND IMPROVE DEER LAKE QUALITY. TO ACHIEVE THIS MISSION, DLA IMPLEMENTS WATER QUALITY AND OTHER INITIATIVES FOR AND WITH THE BROADER DEER LAKE COMMUNITY - INCLUDING ALL WHO USE DEER LAKE, DEPEND ON DEER LAKE, OR WHOSE ACTIONS AFFECT DEER LAKE. DLA ALSO BUILDS COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING RELATED CHARITABLE SERVICE, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS AND SURROUNDING AREA RESIDENTS.

Income
$131,307
Spending
$87,289
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
0
Volunteers
60

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 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 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • 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, 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. $54,829 spent. AIS INITIATIVE - THE PURPOSE OF THE AIS INITIATIVE IS TO PREVENT AQUATIC INVASIVES FROM BECOMING ESTABLISHED IN DEER LAKE. THE DEER LAKE ASSOCIATION'S (DLA) MULTI-FACETED STRATEGY INCLUDES PREVENTION COMMUNICATIONS TO DEER LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, FUNDS INSPECTORS AND INSPECTIONS AT THE DEER LAKE PUBLIC ACCESS, AND ESTABLISHED A DECONTAMINATION STATION AT THE DEER LAKE PUBLIC ACCESS.
  2. $2,469 spent. WATER QUALITY TESTING - FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, THE DEER LAKE ASSOCIATION PERFORMS SECCHI DISK READINGS AND COLLECTS LAKE WATER SAMPLES MONTHLY FROM SIX LOCATIONS ON DEER LAKE, THEN TRANSPORTS THOSE SAMPLES TO A PROFESSIONAL LAB FOR TESTING AND MEASUREMENT. THE LAB IDENTIFIES AND MEASURE PHOSPHORUS AND OTHER NUTRIENTS THAT DRIVE WATER CLARITY, AND REPORTS TOTAL PHOSPHORUS, CHLOROPHYLL, AND WATER CLARITY OVER TIME. THIS INFORMATION ENABLES DLA TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTION PLAN AND DETERMINE WHETHER THE PLAN IS WORKING.
  3. $10,186 spent. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
  4. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 November 1997.

    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.