Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE AND ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED US MOST, TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE AND CARING CITIZENS.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 56%
- Employees
- 74
- Volunteers
- 231
- Highest pay
- $101,431, executive director
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $1.7 million spent. THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE BEMIDJI AREA SERVES YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES IN A COUNTY WHERE 21 PERCENT OF CHILDREN LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE CLUB DELIVERS AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS TO YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL AND TIMES WHEN YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ON THEIR OWN AND IN NEED OF POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES WITH CARING ADULTS. BY THE NUMBERS: THE CLUB SERVES ABOUT 600 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. NEARLY 64 PERCENT OF CLUB MEMBERS COME FROM FAMILIES AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF CLUB MEMBERS IDENTIFY AS CAUCASIAN AND THE REMAINING AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR MIXED ETHNICITIES. CLUB PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY ABOUT 70 STAFF MEMBERS AND 231 ADULT VOLUNTEERS.FUNDING: THE CLUB FUNDS ITS MISSION THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS, COMMUNITY BUSINESSES, PRIVATE AND CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS. MORE THAN 75 PERCENT OF FUNDING IS FROM INDIVIDUAL AND BUSINESS DONORS ALONG WITH LOCAL FOUNDATIONS. MISSION AND SIGNFICANT ACTIVITIES: ALTHOUGH THE CLUB SERVES ABOUT 600 CHILDREN ANNUALLY, THE FOCUS IS ON EACH, INDIVIDUAL CHILD. THE CLUB BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS THAT HELP YOUTH DISCOVER THEIR OWN POTENTIAL AND RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES AS VALUABLE AND INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. STAFF KNOW EACH CLUB MEMBER BY NAME. AND THOSE TEENS AND CHILDREN MOST IN NEED WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH TRAINED MENTORS.PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON BUILDING ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HELPING YOUTH ADOPT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND GROWING INTO CARING AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CLUB PROGRAMS IS ITS GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE. ALSO, TEENS HAVE THEIR OWN TEEN CENTER WITHIN THE CLUB.ACADEMIC SUCCESS: ALL CLUB YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO SET ACADEMIC GOALS, GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND TO CONSIDER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR JOB TRAINING. CLUB MEMBERS SPEND AT LEAST 30 MINUTES DAILY DOING HOMEWORK AT THE CLUB, READING QUIETLY, PLAYING EDUCATIONAL GAMES LIKE MATH DODGE BALL OR WORKING WITH A TUTOR. CHILDREN WHO STRUGGLE WITH READING WORK WITH READING TUTORS OR PARTICIPATE IN THE BEMIDJI AREA CANINE READING PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO READ TO SPECIALLY-TRAINED DOGS. YOUTH ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER LAB, AN ART ROOM AND CLUB LIBRARY AND STEM ACTIVITIES. CLUB MEMBERS CAN COMPETE ANNUALLY IN A NATIONAL FINE ARTS CONTEST.HEALTHY LIFESTYLES: CLUB YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENGAGE IN POSITIVE BEHAVIORS THAT NURTURE WELL-BEING, AVOID HARMFUL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, SET PERSONAL GOALS AND GROW INTO SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS BY PARTICIPATING IN DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, MAKING HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND DEVELOPING AN APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS. THE CLUB SERVES A HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS AFTER-SCHOOL SNACK AND LUNCH IN THE SUMMERTIME. CLUB YOUTH HAVE THEIR OWN GARDEN AND OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER WHERE THEY GROW AND LEARN TO PREPARE FRESH PRODUCE, HOST THEIR OWN FARMER'S MARKET FOR CLUB FAMILIES AND PREPARE AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY HARVEST DINNER. IN THE SUMMER, THE CLUB SENDS A SELECT GROUP OF TEENS TO A WEEKLONG CANOEING ADVENTURE ON THE CANADIAN BORDER.GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP: CLUB YOUTH FOCUS ON COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERING AT THE CLUB AND IN THE COMMUNITY. SERVICE BUILDS LEADERSHIP SKILLS, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND A SENSE OF WELL-BEING. EVERY YEAR, CLUB TEENS VIE FOR YOUTH OF THE YEAR WITH THE CHANCE TO COMPETE AT THE STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL AND EARN SCHOLARSHIP. CLUB YOUTH OF ALL AGES RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR. THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR OF JULY 2024-JUNE 2025, THE CLUB SERVED 517 CHILDREN AND TEENS BETWEEN FOUR SITES. THE 517 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN AND TEEN COUNT REPRESENT A 36% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR (380 YOUTH) AND SHOWS CONTINUED GROWTH FOLLOWING A DIP IN MEMBERSHIP CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 2024-2025 PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS: OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE CLUB HAS STRIVED TO STRENGTHEN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ISD #31 BEMIDJI SCHOOLS THROUGH COLLABORATION, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, AND WHOLE-CHILD CONSIDERATION AS WE BOTH WORK TO SERVE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN 2024-2025, WE CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH ISD#31 AND HAVE NOW BUILT A POSITIVE AND STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH ISD #32 BLACKDUCK SCHOOLS TO BETTER THE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH WHO FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS. 1. 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER (21CLCC): A GRANT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE CLUB SERVED AS A CO-LEAD AND CO-APPLICANT TO STRENGTHEN THE PROPOSAL. IN JULY 2023, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT ISD#31 HAD BEEN AWARDED THE GRANT. AS A PART OF THE 21CCLC GRANT, THE CLUB LAUNCHED AN ADDITIONAL SITE AT J.W. SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO SERVE YOUTH IN GRADES K-3. DISTRICT DATA SHOWED THAT STUDENTS AT J.W. SMITH WERE IN THE MOST NEED OF MATH, READING, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS. THE BRANCH OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2023. IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THE J.W. SMITH BRANCH SERVED 45 YOUTH PER DAY. DURING ITS SECOND YEAR, THE J.W. SMITH BRANCH SERVED UP TO 117 YOUTH, WITH AN AVERAGE PARTICIPATION OF 61. IT HAS A SCHOOL YEAR BUDGET OF $303,000, AND ISD#31 WILL OVERSEE THE REMAINDER OF THE GRANT FOR ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH. THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS GRANT IS ANTICIPATED TO CONCLUDE JUNE 2026, AND THE CLUB IS WORKING WITH ISD#31 AND MDE FOR PHASE TWO OF FUNDING. 2. EXPANSION GRANT: AFTER A LENGTHY FEASIBILITY STUDY (2023-2024) INCLUDING AN ANALYSIS OF THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH IN BLACKDUCK, PARTNERSHIP BUILDING WITH ISD#32 BLACKDUCK SCHOOLS, AND AN EXPANSION GRANT AWARD FOR THE MN ALLIANCE OF BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS FROM MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE CLUB EXPANDED AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER 2024 AND BEGAN SERVING YOUTH K-8 WITH YEAR-ROUND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. SINCE OPENING, THE BLACKDUCK BRANCH HAS SERVED OVER 106 YOUTH. 3. MN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: AWARDED A CLUB PARTNER, HEADWATERS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (HRDC) A GRANT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, SERVICES, AND EDUCATION TO SECTION EIGHT HOUSING NEIGHBORHOODS KNOWN FOR HIGH CRIME, DRUGS AND UNSAFE SPACES. CLUB LEADERSHIP COAUTHORED THE GRANT AND CREATED ONE OF THE THREE MAIN PRIORITIES ON
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 April 2003.
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.
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