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Smart North

EIN 86-3782715 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SMART NORTH WAS BORN OUT OF COMMUNITY VISION TO ADVANCE DIGITAL EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA. WE PROVIDE FREE ACCESS AND TRAINING IN LEADING 21ST CENTURY TECH SKILLS TO CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL AT OUR TECH HUBS. WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND MANAGING PILOT FOR 21ST CENTURY SMART INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEEDY COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS SMART STREET LIGHTS, AND HOST AN ANNUAL THOUGHT LEADERSHIP EVENT CALLED FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO SHOWCASE LATEST PROJECTS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH OUR WORK TO CREATE A DIGITALLY FORWARD WORKFORCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MN.

Income
$807,852
Spending
$817,723
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$37,500, 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 102% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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

    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 (1)
  1. $642,292 spent. SMART NORTH'S BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024 WERE THREEFOLD:1. OPENING A NEW TECH HUB IN GRAND RAPIDS, MN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY ED OF ITASCA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS PROVIDING THE CRITICALLY NEEDED 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY SKILLS TRAINING AND CAREER PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS IN THE AREA.WE HAD TO BUILD A TEAM TO OPERATE THE TECH HUB LOCALLY AS WELL AS EXTEND OUR PROGRAMMING TO THIS NEW TECH HUB. 2. WITH HELP OF A DEED'S TWO YEAR TARGETED POPULATION/ TRANSFORMATIONAL CAREERS GRANT WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH OUR INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION TRAINING IN LEADING TECH AREAS FOR 18+ WOMEN ACROSS ALL OUR THREE LOCATIONS. THIS OPENED AND ADVANCED OUR MISSION TO INCLUDE ADULTS IN THE AREAS WE SERVE. 3. WE ALSO LAUNCHED OUR INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION TRAINING IN LEADING TECH AREAS FOR 16-24 OLD YOUTH CALLED NEXT GEN, ACROSS OUR THREE LOCATIONS.

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 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 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 April 2022.

    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.

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