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Scandia Heritage Alliance

EIN 83-1575163 · Scandia, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE SCANDIA, MINNESOTA'S RICH HISTORY, CULTURE, ARTS AND RURAL CHARACTER.

Income
$252,078
Spending
$76,691
Spent on programs
24%
Reserves
42.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
45

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 42.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    24% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
  1. RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC SCANDIA WATER TOWER BARN AND CREATION OF AN ARTS & HERITAGE CENTER THAT INCLUDES THE WATER TOWER BARN MUSEUM, AN AMPHITHEATER, WETLAND TRAILS AND OVERLOOK, A WATER PLAY AREA, AND A SUMMER CAF FEATURING TRADITIONAL SWEDISH FARE. COSTS INCURRED FOR THIS PROGRAM HAVE BEEN CAPITALIZED AS PART OF THE WATER TOWER BARN DEVELOPMENT AND NOT EXPENSED.
  2. $2,486 spent. DEVELOPMENT OF A SCANDIA HERITAGE TRAIL, MAP, AND INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE THAT TELLS THE HISTORY OF SCANDIA'S HISTORIC SITES. THIS MAP IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT MANY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCANDIA COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE SCANDIA COMMUNITY CENTER AND GAMMELGARDEN MUSEUM.
  3. $15,959 spent. SCANDIA HISTORY SERIES PROGRAMS - SCANDIA HERITAGE ALLIANCE JOINED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GAMMELGRDEN MUSEUM AND THE CITY OF SCANDIA TO EXPAND SCANDIA VINTERFEST IN JANUARY WITH FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES IN EVENTS SPONSORED BY SHA IN 2024 INCLUDED: HISTORIC ICE HARVESTING, MEETING A SLED DOG TEAM, A KUBB TOURNAMENT , MEETING RAPTORS FROM THE WILDLIFE SCIENCE CENTER AND A GOOSECHASE TRIVIA TREASURE HUNT. IN APRIL, AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 100 GUESTS STEPPED BACK IN TIME WITH ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN CHARLENE ROISE TO DISCOVER REASONS BEHIND THE UNIQUE DESIGN OF SCANDIA'S WATER TOWER BARN THAT ONCE STOOD BEHIND THE SCANDIA MERCANTILE. USING A 1905 AERMOTOR MANUAL AS A GUIDE, CHARLENE STUDIED THE WINDMILL REMNANTS THAT REMAINED IN THE BUILDING AND UNRAVELED THE MYSTERY BEHIND A DOUBLE OUTER WALL ON THE TOWER, BEEFY WINDMILL SUPPORTS, AND WATER TANK DESIGN. IN JUNE, PARTICIPANTS DISCOVERED THE INTRIGUING STORIES OF KNAPP'S CAVE, CEDAR BEND SWING BRIDGE, AND LOG HOUSE LANDING ON THIS PADDLE / HIKE ADVENTURE THAT STARTED AT OSCEOLA LANDING AND CONTINUED TO LOG HOUSE LANDING IN SCANDIA. THE TOUR INCLUDED A SHORT (BUT RIGOROUS) HIKE TO KNAPP'S CAVE TO HEAR ITS VIBRANT HISTORY.KNAPPS CAVE IS THE LARGEST NATURAL CAVE IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY. SCANDIA HERITAGE ALLIANCE WAS PART OF THE SPELMANSSTMMAN (FIDDLEFEST) ON THE GROUNDS OF GAMMELGRDEN MUSEUM IN AUGUST. BOARD MEMBERS OF SHA VOLUNTEERED AT THE DAY LONG CELEBRATION AND SHARED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MISSION AND HISTORY PROGRAMS. SCANDIA HISTORY SERIES PROGRAMS - SCANDIA HERITAGE ALLIANCE JOINED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GAMMELGRDEN MUSEUM AND THE CITY OF SCANDIA TO EXPAND SCANDIA VINTERFEST IN JANUARY WITH FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES IN EVENTS SPONSORED BY SHA IN 2024 INCLUDED: HISTORIC ICE HARVESTING, MEETING A SLED DOG TEAM, A KUBB TOURNAMENT , MEETING RAPTORS FROM THE WILDLIFE SCIENCE CENTER AND A GOOSECHASE TRIVIA TREASURE HUNT. IN APRIL, AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 100 GUESTS STEPPED BACK IN TIME WITH ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN CHARLENE ROISE TO DISCOVER REASONS BEHIND THE UNIQUE DESIGN OF SCANDIA'S WATER TOWER BARN THAT ONCE STOOD BEHIND THE SCANDIA MERCANTILE. USING A 1905 AERMOTOR MANUAL AS A GUIDE, CHARLENE STUDIED THE WINDMILL REMNANTS THAT REMAINED IN THE BUILDING AND UNRAVELED THE MYSTERY BEHIND A DOUBLE OUTER WALL ON THE TOWER, BEEFY WINDMILL SUPPORTS, AND WATER TANK DESIGN. IN JUNE, PARTICIPANTS DISCOVERED THE INTRIGUING STORIES OF KNAPP'S CAVE, CEDAR BEND SWING BRIDGE, AND LOG HOUSE LANDING ON THIS PADDLE / HIKE ADVENTURE THAT STARTED AT OSCEOLA LANDING AND CONTINUED TO LOG HOUSE LANDING IN SCANDIA. THE TOUR INCLUDED A SHORT (BUT RIGOROUS) HIKE TO KNAPP'S CAVE TO HEAR ITS VIBRANT HISTORY.KNAPPS CAVE IS THE LARGEST NATURAL CAVE IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY. SCANDIA HERITAGE ALLIANCE WAS PART OF THE SPELMANSSTMMAN (FIDDLEFEST) ON THE GROUNDS OF GAMMELGRDEN MUSEUM IN AUGUST. BOARD MEMBERS OF SHA VOLUNTEERED AT THE DAY LONG CELEBRATION AND SHARED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MISSION AND HISTORY PROGRAMS.

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

  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 2024.

    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 March 2019.

    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.