Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Mary Beth Nienhaus Activity Center Inc

EIN 81-3840811 · Appleton, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE THOMPSON CENTER ON LOURDES, INC. D/B/A MARY BETH NIENHAUS ACTIVITY CENTER, INC. VISION IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE 50+ TO THRIVE THROUGH MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION, SOCIALIZATION, EDUCATION AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
15.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
13
Volunteers
190
Highest pay
$95,387, executive di

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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, 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. $761,932 spent. DRIVING THE VISION AND MISSION ARE FOUR FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS THAT GUIDE EVERYTHING WE DO AT THE MARY BETH NIENHAUS ACTIVITY CENTER: COLLABORATION WORKING TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE A WIDE RANGE OF KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND EXPERTISE. WE ARE PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH NEARLY 140 PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, EXPANDING BOTH OUR REACH AND IMPACT. SOCIALIZATION BUILDING CONNECTIONS AND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND GROUP OUTINGS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION CAN BE AS HARMFUL TO ONES HEALTH AS SMOKING 15 CIGARETTES A DAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION IS A MODIFIABLE RISK FACTOR MEANING IT CAN BE CHANGED. STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE OUTCOMES RELATED TO STROKE, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, CANCER, AND OBESITY. EDUCATION PROVIDING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE TIMELY, INCLUSIVE, AND RELEVANT. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING HELPS KEEP THE MIND ACTIVE, SUPPORTING MEMORY, ATTENTION, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. CONTINUED LEARNING PROMOTES COGNITIVE RESILIENCE AND MAY HELP DELAY AGE-RELATED COGNITIVE DECLINE. WELLNESS PROGRAMMING SUPPORTING HEALTHY MINDS AND BODIES. AS AN ACTIVITY CENTER, WE INTENTIONALLY INCORPORATE MOVEMENT AND WELLNESS EDUCATION INTO OUR OFFERINGS. OUR PROGRAMS BUILD STRENGTH, SUPPORT DAILY FUNCTIONING, HELP PREVENT FALLS, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY HABITS SUCH AS NUTRITION AND CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENTENHANCING INDEPENDENCE AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. THESE PILLARS ARE REFLECTED IN EVERYTHING WE DOFROM OUR PROGRAMMING TO OUR PARTNERSHIPS TO THE WAY WE ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2025, THE MARY BETH NIENHAUS ACTIVITY CENTER RELOCATED TO 3000 E. COLLEGE AVENUE, SUITE B, IN APPLETON, WISCONSIN. UPON OPENING ITS DOORS IN JUNE, THE CENTER EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS GROWTHSERVING 3,730 INDIVIDUALS, UP FROM 2,411 THE PREVIOUS YEAR, REPRESENTING A 55% INCREASE. THE CENTER ALSO RECORDED 42,228 PARTICIPANT VISITS AND DELIVERED MORE THAN 3,563 PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS. DRIVING THE VISION AND MISSION ARE FOUR FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS THAT GUIDE EVERYTHING WE DO AT THE MARY BETH NIENHAUS ACTIVITY CENTER: COLLABORATION WORKING TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE A WIDE RANGE OF KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND EXPERTISE. WE ARE PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH NEARLY 140 PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, EXPANDING BOTH OUR REACH AND IMPACT. SOCIALIZATION BUILDING CONNECTIONS AND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND GROUP OUTINGS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION CAN BE AS HARMFUL TO ONES HEALTH AS SMOKING 15 CIGARETTES A DAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION IS A MODIFIABLE RISK FACTOR MEANING IT CAN BE CHANGED. STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE OUTCOMES RELATED TO STROKE, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, CANCER, AND OBESITY. EDUCATION PROVIDING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE TIMELY, INCLUSIVE, AND RELEVANT. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING HELPS KEEP THE MIND ACTIVE, SUPPORTING MEMORY, ATTENTION, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. CONTINUED LEARNING PROMOTES COGNITIVE RESILIENCE AND MAY HELP DELAY AGE-RELATED COGNITIVE DECLINE. WELLNESS PROGRAMMING SUPPORTING HEALTHY MINDS AND BODIES. AS AN ACTIVITY CENTER, WE INTENTIONALLY INCORPORATE MOVEMENT AND WELLNESS EDUCATION INTO OUR OFFERINGS. OUR PROGRAMS BUILD STRENGTH, SUPPORT DAILY FUNCTIONING, HELP PREVENT FALLS, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY HABITS SUCH AS NUTRITION AND CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENTENHANCING INDEPENDENCE AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. THESE PILLARS ARE REFLECTED IN EVERYTHING WE DOFROM OUR PROGRAMMING TO OUR PARTNERSHIPS TO THE WAY WE ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2025, THE MARY BETH NIENHAUS ACTIVITY CENTER RELOCATED TO 3000 E. COLLEGE AVENUE, SUITE B, IN APPLETON, WISCONSIN. UPON OPENING ITS DOORS IN JUNE, THE CENTER EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS GROWTHSERVING 3,730 INDIVIDUALS, UP FROM 2,411 THE PREVIOUS YEAR, REPRESENTING A 55% INCREASE. THE CENTER ALSO RECORDED 42,228 PARTICIPANT VISITS AND DELIVERED MORE THAN 3,563 PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS.

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 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 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 May 2018.

    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.