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Friends of Pine Grove Zoo

EIN 41-1949216 · Little Falls, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION WHILE CREATING A PROGRESSIVE ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

Income
$785,377
Spending
$784,766
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 43%
Employees
15
Volunteers
46
Highest pay
$64,800, zoo director, ex officio

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $635,111 spent. THE PINE GROVE ZOO IS A SMALL ZOO THAT IS PART OF A COMMUNITY OF APPROXIMATELY 8,300 PEOPLE. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SMALL IN SIZE, THE IMPACT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IS VAST. ONE WAY THIS IS EVIDENT IS IN OUR THRIVING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WE OFFER IS MODEST BUT THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION WE ARE ABLE TO CONVEY THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS ARE IMMENSE AND FAR REACHING. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CONNECT WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, INTERESTS, AND BACKGROUNDS THRU INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL, AND FUN ACTIVITIES. VISITORS TO THE PINE GROVE ZOO THRU ADMISSIONS AND EVENTS TOTALED 22,446 FOR THE 2025 SEASON. THESE VISITORS CAME FROM 203 CITIES IN MINNESOTA, 50 STATES, AND 5 COUNTRIES. OUR ON SITE SELF-GUIDED AND GUIDED TOURS PROVIDED INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR 2,411 PEOPLE FROM CITIES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL MINNESOTA. ON-SITE EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUCH AS OPERANT TRAINING DEMONSTRATIONS; ZOOKEEPER AND ENRICHMENT PRESENTATIONS; DREW OVER 1,788 PEOPLE.WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE OUR ZOO GONE WILD IN WHICH WE HAD 418 IN ATTENDANCE. IN OCTOBER, WE HAD OUR FIRST ANNUAL BOOFEST WITH 1,285 IN ATTENDANCE.THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS OF PINE GROVE ZOO WERE SUPPORTED BY 46 VOLUNTEERS OVER THE YEAR AND THOSE VOLUNTEERS LOGGED 889 HOURS.

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 June 2000.

    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.