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Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc

EIN 41-1982575 · Bloomington, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES THAT FURTHER THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (REFUGE) OF THE USFWS, INCLUDING ACQUISITION, RESTORATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF LAND FOR THE REFUGE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF REFUGE OPERATIONS.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
114.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
20
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$179,851, former executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 114.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 133% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $2.3 million spent. 2024 STATEMENT OF PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTSIN KEEPING WITH ITS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK 2019-2024, THE MINNESOTA VALLEY TRUST (MVT) HAD THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024:1. MVT INVESTED IN STRATEGIC LAND ACQUISITION FOR THE MINNESOTA VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX. MVT CONTINUED WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS ON ACQUISITION OF PARCELS TO EXPAND AND COMPLETE UNITS FOR THE REFUGE COMPLEX. IN 2024, MVT ACQUIRED 2 PARCELS TOTALING 14.26 ACRES AS EVENTUAL ADDITIONS TO THE MN VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. THE ACQUIRED PARCELS SERVE AS CRITICAL AND IMPROVED PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS TO THE REFUGE. MVT ALSO ACQUIRED 277.2 ACRES ACROSS TWO PARCELS TO EXPAND THE PAULEY WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREA IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY. MVT FURTHER COMPLETED THE TRANSFER OF TWO PARCELS CONSISTING OF 242 ACRES IN TOTAL TO THE MN VALLEY WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.2. MVT INVESTED IN STRATEGIC HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT ON THE REFUGE COMPLEX. EMPLOYED A FULL-TIME HABITAT BIOLOGIST TO DESIGN, PLAN AND MANAGE HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT ON MVT LANDS, COORDINATE THE CONSERVATION CORPS MN-IA (CCMI) CREW, AND ASSIST WITH REFUGE PROJECTS. CONTRACTED FOR AND COORDINATED A CCMI CREW THAT CONDUCTED HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES OVER 241 ACRES ACROSS 19 PROJECT SITES ON THE REFUGE COMPLEX. CONTRACTED FOR HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT WORK OVER ANOTHER 231 ACRES AT 11 SITES THROUGHOUT THE REFUGE COMPLEX, INCLUDING 4 PARCELS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY MVT.3. MVT SUPPORTED SPECIAL PROJECTS AND INVESTMENTS TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE, INSPIRING EXPERIENCE ON THE REFUGE FOR A DIVERSITY OF VISITORS. FUNDED THE OPERATIONS OF THE RAPIDS LAKE EDUCATION AND VISITOR CENTER (EVC) AND INTERN BUNKHOUSE. PROVIDED PUBLIC WI-FI AT THE BLOOMINGTON EVC. FUNDED ONE REFUGE MAINTENANCE POSITION. FUNDED AND CONTRACTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN APPROXIMATELY 2,200 SQUARE FOOT MANUFACTURED HOME AT THE RAPIDS LAKE EVC. THE HOME SERVES AS HOUSING FOR FIRE PROGRAM APPRENTICES AND OTHER PERSONNEL TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED TO THE REFUGE. EMPLOYED A GIS SPECIALIST & PROJECT MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A GEODATABASE AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE DASHBOARD FOR THE REFUGE, PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY REFUGE MAPS FOR VISITOR AND STAFF USE, COORDINATE ALL WORK RELATED TO CONVEYING LANDS TO THE USFWS AND MANAGE IT FOR THE REFUGE.4. MVT INVESTED IN CONNECTING MORE PEOPLE AND A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE WITH THE REFUGE. PROVIDED FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORT TO THE MINNESOTA VALLEY REFUGE FRIENDS. FUNDED THREE PARK RANGER POSITIONS IN VISITOR SERVICES ON THE REFUGE. EMPLOYED FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TEACHING INTERNS IN FULL-TIME ONE-YEAR POSITIONS TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER CONTENT TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND VISITORS ON THE REFUGE, AT PARTNER SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY. EMPLOYED THREE APPRENTICES IN FULL-TIME TWO-YEAR POSITIONS TO SERVE ON THE REFUGE TEAMS IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND VISITOR SERVICES.2 EMPLOYED A FULL-TIME INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR TO ASSIST WITH RECRUITMENT AND SUPPORT OF THE MVT FULL-TIME INTERNS AND APPRENTICES ON THE REFUGE, AS WELL AS TO LEAD THE REFUGE'S HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. EMPLOYED A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER TO STRENGTHEN REFUGE PARTNERSHIPS, FOSTER NEW COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THAT BUILD THE REFUGE AS A COMMUNITY ASSET, AND BUILD THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY OF REFUGE STAFF TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY-INCLUSIVE, MEANINGFUL AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCES TO AUDIENCES TYPICALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED IN THE OUTDOORS AND AT REFUGE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.5. MVT LEVERAGED ITS ASSETS. RECEIVED $2,234,725 IN GRANT PAYMENTS ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND U.S.DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND LAND ACQUISITIONS COMPLETED AS PER GRANT AGREEMENTS. WAS AWARDED A GRANT BY THE 2024 MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,250,000 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE LESSARD-SAMS OUTDOOR HERITAGE COUNCIL FOR METRO BIG RIVERS PHASE 14. THE GRANT WILL BE PAID ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS FOR STRATEGIC LAND ACQUISITION FOR THE REFUGE COMPLEX. WAS AWARDED A GRANT BY THE 2024 MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $793,000 FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MN LEGISLATIVE CITIZENS COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA'S RESOURCES FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE "MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS" PROGRAM. WAS AWARDED A GRANT BY THE MN DNR CONSERVATION PARTNERS LEGACY PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,000 FOR PHASE 3 OF THE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT IN THE MN RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.