Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Great Northern Winter Festival

EIN 81-5138735 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak22 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GREAT NORTHERN CELEBRATES OUR COLD, CREATIVE WINTERS THROUGH TEN DAYS OF DIVERSE PROGRAMMING THAT INVIGORATE MIND AND BODY. IN AN ERA OF CHANGING CLIMATE THAT THREATENS OUR SIGNATURE SEASON, WE SEEK TO CREATE COMMUNITY, INSPIRE ACTION, AND SHARE THE RESILIENT SPIRIT OF THE NORTH WITH THE WORLD.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
10
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$135,000, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 22 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 March 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. $909,112 spent. IN FY25 THE GREAT NORTHERN (TGN) CONTINUED ITS MISSION TO HOST AN ANNUAL WINTER FESTIVAL ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES, INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS, FOSTERING COMMUNITY, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER DURING THE MOST ISOLATING TIME OF THE YEAR: MINNESOTA'S LONG, COLD WINTERS. TGN ENCOURAGES OUR AUDIENCE TO GET OUTDOORS, BUILD CONNECTIONS, STAY ACTIVE, AND CELEBRATE THE PERSPECTIVES, COMMUNITIES, CULTURES, AND ECOSYSTEMS THAT MAKE THIS REGION SPECIAL. THROUGH MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVENTS, TGN HIGHLIGHTS THE URGENCY OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENCOURAGING AWARENESS, ACTION, AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. BY CULTIVATING AUTHENTIC, RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR AUDIENCE AND PARTNERS, WE CONTRIBUTE TO A BROADER CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND COLLECTIVE CARE. TGN'S 2025 FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO CELEBRATE WHAT WINTER GIVES US, WHILE EXPLORING OUR CHANGING CLIMATE THROUGH THE LENSES OF CULTURE/HERITAGE, THE ECONOMY, AND SOCIAL EQUITY. TGN HOSTED DOZENS OF FESTIVAL EVENTS INCLUDING MEANINGFUL ARTS PRESENTATIONS, INVIGORATING OUTDOOR EVENTS, AND UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCES. MORE THAN 50% OF THESE EVENTS WERE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE GREAT NORTHERN PRODUCED AND COPRODUCED EVENTS THAT DREW OVER 10,000 ATTENDEES INTO THE COLD TO EXPERIENCE THE FESTIVAL. THE WAY THE GREAT NORTHERN COMBINES ARTS EVENTS WITH A CLIMATE FOCUS IS UNIQUE AND TRANSFORMATIVE. OUR ATTENDEES CAN EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF WINTER ON A CELLULAR LEVEL AND BE INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED TO PRESERVE IT. THE FESTIVAL'S CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SERIES FEATURED A DOZEN IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS THAT INVESTIGATED CLIMATE ACTION AND ADVOCACY FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES. THESE CONVERSATIONS WERE ATTENDED BY OVER 1,500 PEOPLE. OUR OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING REMAINS THE MOST POPULAR WITH MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. IN 2025, IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WE INCREASED OUR FAMILY PROGRAMMING WITH FAMILY PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE FESTIVAL. TGN'S FAMILY PROGRAMMING DREW OVER 1,500 ATTENDEES AND WILL BE A MAINSTAY OF THE FESTIVAL. OUR DANCE PERFORMANCES, LIVE MUSIC, AND VISUAL ART EXPERIENCE DREW NEARLY 2,000 ATTENDEES. IN THE LEAD-UP TO AND DURING THE GREAT NORTHERN'S 2025 FESTIVAL, WE SECURED DOZENS OF PIECES OF COVERAGE THAT GARNERED MILLIONS OF ESTIMATED VIEWS. IN FY25 THE GREAT NORTHERN (TGN) CONTINUED ITS MISSION TO HOST AN ANNUAL WINTER FESTIVAL ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES, INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS, FOSTERING COMMUNITY, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER DURING THE MOST ISOLATING TIME OF THE YEAR: MINNESOTA'S LONG, COLD WINTERS. TGN ENCOURAGES OUR AUDIENCE TO GET OUTDOORS, BUILD CONNECTIONS, STAY ACTIVE, AND CELEBRATE THE PERSPECTIVES, COMMUNITIES, CULTURES, AND ECOSYSTEMS THAT MAKE THIS REGION SPECIAL. THROUGH MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVENTS, TGN HIGHLIGHTS THE URGENCY OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENCOURAGING AWARENESS, ACTION, AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. BY CULTIVATING AUTHENTIC, RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR AUDIENCE AND PARTNERS, WE CONTRIBUTE TO A BROADER CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND COLLECTIVE CARE. TGN'S 2025 FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO CELEBRATE WHAT WINTER GIVES US, WHILE EXPLORING OUR CHANGING CLIMATE THROUGH THE LENSES OF CULTURE/HERITAGE, THE ECONOMY, AND SOCIAL EQUITY. TGN HOSTED DOZENS OF FESTIVAL EVENTS INCLUDING MEANINGFUL ARTS PRESENTATIONS, INVIGORATING OUTDOOR EVENTS, AND UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCES. MORE THAN 50% OF THESE EVENTS WERE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE GREAT NORTHERN PRODUCED AND COPRODUCED EVENTS THAT DREW OVER 10,000 ATTENDEES INTO THE COLD TO EXPERIENCE THE FESTIVAL. THE WAY THE GREAT NORTHERN COMBINES ARTS EVENTS WITH A CLIMATE FOCUS IS UNIQUE AND TRANSFORMATIVE. OUR ATTENDEES CAN EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF WINTER ON A CELLULAR LEVEL AND BE INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED TO PRESERVE IT. THE FESTIVAL'S CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SERIES FEATURED A DOZEN IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS THAT INVESTIGATED CLIMATE ACTION AND ADVOCACY FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES. THESE CONVERSATIONS WERE ATTENDED BY OVER 1,500 PEOPLE. OUR OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING REMAINS THE MOST POPULAR WITH MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. IN 2025, IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WE INCREASED OUR FAMILY PROGRAMMING WITH FAMILY PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE FESTIVAL. TGN'S FAMILY PROGRAMMING DREW OVER 1,500 ATTENDEES AND WILL BE A MAINSTAY OF THE FESTIVAL. OUR DANCE PERFORMANCES, LIVE MUSIC, AND VISUAL ART EXPERIENCE DREW NEARLY 2,000 ATTENDEES. IN THE LEAD-UP TO AND DURING THE GREAT NORTHERN'S 2025 FESTIVAL, WE SECURED DOZENS OF PIECES OF COVERAGE THAT GARNERED MILLIONS OF ESTIMATED VIEWS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 March 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 April 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 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.