Children & Nature Network

Overview

Mission

See schedule o.to increase equitable access to nature so that children and the natural world can thrive. We do that by: 1) fostering belief that a connection to nature is critical to children's healthy development; 2) changing core systems that impact children's daily access to nature, such as muncipal government, public schools, etc.; 3) growing the movement to reconnect children with nature.

What it reported doing in 2025

Systems changechildren & nature network has provided technical assistance, tools & resources to over 80 communities through nature everywhere, our strategic initiative to advance equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play in 100 communities by 2025. Our youth outdoor equity leadership fund distributed $8,000 in micro grants to 18 leaders engaged in nature-based projects in their local communities. Children & nature network disbursed $960,000 to transform schoolyards and support local efforts to advance access in local communities across the country.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 87% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
141959018
IRS 990 coverage
2012–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025
Headquarters
Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone
6122501874
Rating
83
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Remedial Reading, Reading Encouragement

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 81
  • Transparency & Controls: 83
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 21
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 74.2%; rating input score 74
  • Fundraising efficiency: $2.33 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -76.2%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.08; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 17.7%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 11.9% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 9.8% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 18.7% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 74.2% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 16 of 16 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $3M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $182K · 18 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 1 contractor listed · $123K reported
  • Consistency: 29 of 29 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 13 annual filings from 2012 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 13 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 8 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

18 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • SARAH MILLIGAN TOFFLER (CEO): $182,411 total reported compensation
  • LAURA MYLAN (CSO EXTERNAL RELATIONS): $143,019 total reported compensation
  • ED KEGLE (COO): $141,588 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2025.