Camp Fire Minnesota

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
410706116
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Excelsior, MN, USA
Phone
6123093261
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Youth Centers, Clubs

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$3,657,387
Expenses
$3,535,905
Assets
$2,795,145
Liabilities
$346,354

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

32 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • KORI REDPENNING (CEO & PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • KORI REDPENNING (CEO & PRESIDENT): $210,631 total reported compensation
  • SARA LEMKE (VP OF DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS): $128,476 total reported compensation
  • REBECCA FINK (VP OF PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS): $124,208 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

With nature as our catalyst, we energize youth to discover their spark so their futures glow brighter.

What it reported doing in 2024

Outdoor programscamp fire Minnesota's outdoor programs connect youth with the power of nature through summer camp, school-break camps, and k-12 environmental education. Our summer camp program includes day and overnight camps, a leadership development track, and adventure canoe trips. Youth from all backgrounds gather at camp fire to swim and kayak in lake minnewashta, push their limits on the challenge course, tend vegetables in the garden, and explore the restored wetlands and pollinator garden. We offer full and partial scholarships to families in need.(continue to schedule o)our k-12 environmental education and team-building program engages students in hands-on learning at our camp property, in their classrooms, and through virtual live lessons. Our environmental education curriculum aligns with state education standards and is delivered by a cohort of naturalists. We provide financial assistance to schools, utilizing a sliding scale fee model.we also offer families and educators access to our free online resource library, my nature connection, to help youth connect with nature in their backyard and neighborhoods.as a result of our outdoor programs, youth unplug in nature, develop as environmental stewards, and grow as individuals and leaders.

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 94% 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.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

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: 71
  • Transparency & Controls: 88
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 39
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 77.1%; rating input score 77
  • Program expense ratio: 78.7%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $5.33 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 19; 19th 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; 72nd 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; 63rd 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: 3.3%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.79; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 13.1%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 2% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 77.1% of revenue deployed · 78.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 24 of 24 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $2.8M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $211K · 32 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 34 of 34 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 9 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 3 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • 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.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 19/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 45/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 29/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 22/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 54/100.