National Loon Center Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL LOON CENTER INSPIRES THE PUBLIC TO REDUCE HUMAN-CAUSED IMPACTS TO LOON HABITATS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA. OUR FORTHCOMING WORLD CLASS FACILITY WILL PROVIDE AN IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT EXPERIENCE THAT EQUIPS PEOPLE TO PROTECT LOONS AND THEIR HABITATS AS THE CENTER BECOMES AN INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN LOON RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.
- Income
- $466,947
- Spending
- $521,786
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -20.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $149,043, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
6 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $327,816 spent. THE NATIONAL LOON CENTER SUBSTANTIALLY EXPANDED ITS IMPACT IN 2024 BY EDUCATING 5,637 VISITORS AT THE NEST ON THE CROSSLAKE TOWN SQUARE OUR TEMPORARY VISITOR AND WELCOME CENTER. ANOTHER 6,138 PEOPLE WERE REACHED THROUGH OUTREACH EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS ACROSS THE STATE, AND MANY THOUSANDS WERE REACHED VIA OUR COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS. THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE ENGAGED DIRECTLY IN THE CONSERVATION OF LOONS AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS. THE NATIONAL LOON CENTER CONTINUED TO FUND NECROPSIES TO QUANTIFY LOON MORTALITY CAUSES, COLLECTING AND DELIVERING 8 SPECIMENS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY. OUR FLOATING PONTOON CLASSROOM, USED FOR LOON AND FRESHWATER EDUCATION, PROVIDED 111 TOTAL TRIPS THAT ENABLED 1,363 PEOPLE TO ENJOY A FREE ON-WATER EDUCATION. SHARE OUR SHORELINE, A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE STEWARDSHIP OF THE WHITEFISH AREA LAKES AND PINE RIVER WATERSHED, ENGAGED HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WHITEFISH AREA PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION. THE NATIONAL LOON CENTER ALSO CONDUCTED SEVERAL MINNESOTA LOONS & FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS WORKSHOPS IN COLLABORATION WITH NORTHERN WATERS LAND TRUST AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' MINNESOTA LOON RESTORATION PROJECT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 October 2017.
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 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.