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Nextstage

EIN 85-0898705 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 61 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN PURSUING ENTREPRENEURSHIP; TO ASSIST ENTREPRENEURS IN THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND START-UP OF A BUSINESS VENTURE; AND TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITH GROWTH, AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT.

Income
$926,044
Spending
$934,335
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
33.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
5
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$177,339, ceo

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 61 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $813,536 spent. THE NEXTSTAGE FOR ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM OFFERS TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENTREPRENEURS - PARTICULARLY NON-TRADITIONAL AND DISADVANTAGED ENTREPRENEURS - DURING THE PRE-START PLANNING, START-UP, AND GROWTH PHASES. WE BELIEVE THAT ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRESENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO FIND PERSONAL SATISFACTION IN THEIR WORK, BUILD WEALTH AND EQUITY, AND TO IMPROVE THE COLLECTIVE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. HOWEVER, THAT OPPORTUNITY ISN'T EQUAL. CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS - INCLUDING PERSONS OF COLOR AND LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS - FACE CONSISTENT BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TRADITIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS. NEXTSTAGE SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS DISPARITY BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL AT RATES AND TERMS THAT ARE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE THROUGH AN UNDERWRITING PROCESS THAT STRONGLY WEIGHTS AN ENTREPRENEUR'S CREATIVITY, COMMITMENT, AND GROWTH, WITH REDUCED DEPENDENCE ON TRADITIONAL CREDIT STANDARDS OF COLLATERAL, EQUITY CONTRIBUTION AND CREDIT SCORE. IN 2024, NEXTSTAGE PROVIDED $1,817,040. OF DIRECT FINANCING TO 30 NEW AND GROWING SMALL BUSINESS BORROWERS- LEVERAGING NEARLY $7.8 MILLION OF OTHER FINANCING, INVESTMENT, AND EQUITY, AND CREATING AT LEAST 101 NEW JOBS. NEXTSTAGE SEEKS TO PAIR ITS LENDING ACTIVITIES WITH NO-COST, DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS. RATHER THAN PROVIDING STRUCTURED OR CURRICULUM-BASED TRAINING, AS IS COMMON AMONG ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT PROGRAMS, NEXTSTAGE'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS TYPICALLY OFFERED ONE-ON-ONE, WITH A FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES OF EACH ENTREPRENEUR. IN 2024, NEXTSTAGE STAFF WORKED WITH MORE THAN 409 NEW AND EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS, PROVIDING APPROXIMATELY 3419.50 HOURS OF DIRECT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2021.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.