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Lake County Ambulance Service

EIN 41-1893902 · Two Harbors, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE MEDICAL AMBULANCE AND AUXILIARY SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY, INSURANCE COVERAGE, OR GOVERNMENTAL REIMBURSEMENT.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
33
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$106,244, executive director

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.8 million spent. LAKE COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE (LCAS) IS A NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE TREATMENT AND TRANSPORTATION IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA. LCAS IS A PART-TIME ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE SERVICE WHOSE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA (PSA) INCLUDES LAKE, COOK, AND ST. LOUIS COUNTIES. THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE INCLUDE TWO HARBORS, SILVER BAY, BEAVER BAY, FINLAND, ISABELLA, BRIMSON, AND KNIFE RIVER. OUR PSA AREA COVERS AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 1535 SQUARE MILES. ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS, LAKE COUNTY HAD A POPULATION OF 10,905. LAKE COUNTY ENCOMPASSES A SPARSELY POPULATED, HEAVILY FORESTED AREA ALONG THE NORTHSHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR AND IS CONSIDERED "SUPER RURAL." LCAS STAFFS TWO STATIONS: A BASE OF OPERATIONS IN THE CITY OF TWO HARBORS AND A SUBSTATION 30 MILES NORTH IN THE CITY OF SILVER BAY. LCAS HAS 30 EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE AMBULANCE COVERAGE AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF IS MADE UP OF EMTS, WITH THE REMAINING STAFF MADE UP OF PARAMEDICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. A BOARD OF DIRECTORS OVERSEES LCAS, COMPRISED OF 5 VOTING MEMBERS AND A MEDICAL DIRECTOR WHO IS CONTRACTED THROUGH ASPIRUS LAKE VIEW HOSPITAL. IN 2025, LCAS RESPONDED TO 1,583 CALLS FOR SERVICE.LAKE COUNTY PROVIDES LAKE COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE WITH A $500,000 STIPEND. THIS ONGOING FINANCIAL SUPPORT ENSURES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER TIMELY, HIGH-QUALITY CARE AND LIFE-SAVING ASSISTANCE TO THE RESIDENTS OF LAKE COUNTY. THE STIPEND HELPS COVER OPERATIONAL COSTS, IMPROVE EQUIPMENT, AND PROVIDE TRAINING FOR OUR DEDICATED TEAM, REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH.
  2. $80,833 spent. LAKE COUNTY WORKS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE HIGH SCHOOL EMT PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS THE EMT CERTIFICATION EXAM AND PURSUE A CAREER IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE.

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 December 1999.

    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.

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