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Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center Inc

EIN 48-1207926 · Wichita, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUPPORT OF THE GREAT PLAINS NATURE CENTER AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.

Income
$368,908
Spending
$388,899
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
14.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
9
Volunteers
245

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $227,790 spent. THE FRIENDS SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION OF THE GPNC BY FUNDING 3 NATURALIST POSITIONS AND PROVIDING PROGRAM MATERIAL. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 1,213 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED, 3,051 PERSONS CHECKED OUT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR CLASSROOM OR SITE VISITS, AND NEW MATERIALS WERE DESIGNED AND PROCURED TO ASSIST CLASSROOM TEACHERS IN NATURE AND SCIENCE EDUCATION. A TOTAL OF 43,889 INDIVIDUALS VISITED THE CENTER OR ATTENDED ONE OF OUR OFF-SITE PROGRAMS.
  2. $32,000 spent. GIFT SHOP: WE PROVIDE PROGRAM-RELATED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AS WELL AS GIFT AND TOY RESOURCES RELATED TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GREAT PLAINS.
  3. $14,643 spent. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: 245 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 6,195 HOURS OF STAFFING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND FOR EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE. THEY ALSO ASSISTED WITH PRE-K PROGRAMMING, DEVELOPMENT OF INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS AND EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, TRIAL MAINTENANCE, AND CARING FOR PROGRAM ANIMALS.
  4. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: WALK WITH WILDLIFE: VISITORS CAN SEE NATIVE GREAT PLAINS ANIMALS IN AN OPEN SETTING AMONG PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE. THERE WERE 820 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS. OUTDOOR KANSAS KIDS: A ONE-DAY EVENT FOR FAMILIES WITH 18 HANDS-ON STATIONS AND 199 PARTICIPANTS. AQUATIC EDUCATION: FROM JANUARY THROUGH OCTOBER 2025, GPNC TAUGHT 26 AQUATIC PROGRAMS, TEACHING 61 ADULTS AND 483 STUDENTS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM WATER QUALITY IN OUR ECOSYSTEMS TO BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES (BMI), ALL IN CHISHOLM CREEK PARK.
  5. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: WALK WITH WILDLIFE: VISITORS CAN SEE NATIVE GREAT PLAINS ANIMALS IN AN OPEN SETTING AMONG PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE. THERE WERE 820 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS. OUTDOOR KANSAS KIDS: A ONE-DAY EVENT FOR FAMILIES WITH 18 HANDS-ON STATIONS AND 199 PARTICIPANTS. AQUATIC EDUCATION: FROM JANUARY THROUGH OCTOBER 2025, GPNC TAUGHT 26 AQUATIC PROGRAMS, TEACHING 61 ADULTS AND 483 STUDENTS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM WATER QUALITY IN OUR ECOSYSTEMS TO BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES (BMI), ALL IN CHISHOLM CREEK PARK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 May 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 November 4, 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.