Minnesota Private College Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGE FUND SERVES THE SHARED NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS BY SEEKING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FROM CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHERS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS MEMBER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND THE STUDENTS THEY EDUCATE.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 33
- Highest pay
- $500,717, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 33 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (3)
- $918,864 spent. DISTRIBUTION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE 17 MEMBER PRIVATE COLLEGES, THEIR STUDENTS, AND FUND-OPERATED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS AT MEMBER PRIVATE COLLEGES. EVERY DOLLAR CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUND IS DISTRIBUTED AS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE 17 MEMBER PRIVATE COLLEGES, NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AT MEMBER COLLEGES, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FUND-OPERATED SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS AT MEMBER COLLEGES. EACH MEMBER INSTITUTION PAYS ANNUAL DUES TO MPCF, WHICH COVER ALL THE FUND'S GENERAL OVERHEAD, FUNDRAISING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
- $202,799 spent. THE INNOVATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM OFFERING SELECTED MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS OF STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESEARCH PROJECTS WITH START-UP AND EARLY-STAGE MEDICAL COMPANIES AND THE MAYO CLINIC. INNOVATION SCHOLARS PROGRAMMING EXPOSES STUDENTS TO THE AMBIGUITIES OF "REAL WORLD" INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THE ROLE OF TEAMWORK, CROSS-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION, IN-DEPTH RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND CREATIVITY. TWELVE INSTITUTIONS AND 55 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN FISCAL 2025.
- $481,610 spent. TRAILBLAZERS OFFERS A UNIQUE TWO-YEAR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AT OUR MEMBER COLLEGES. THE PROGRAM COMBINES A TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP WITH COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISING, INDIVIDUALIZED MENTORING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMMING, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS, AND CAREER PREPARATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.