Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

2025 statement of program accomplishments:1. Mvt invested in strategic land acquisition for the Minnesota valley national wildlife refuge complex. Mvt continued working with landowners on acquisition of parcels to expand and complete units for the refuge complex. In 2025, mvt acquired 1 parcel totaling 59 acres as an eventual addition to the mn valley national wildlife refuge. The acquired parcel adds to an existing habitat complex in the st. Lawrence unit of the refuge. Mvt further completed the transfer of two parcels consisting of 117.3 acres in total to the refuge and an additional two parcels totaling 277.4 acres to the mn valley wetland management district.2. Mvt invested in strategic habitat restoration and enhancement on the refuge complex. Employed a full-time habitat biologist to design, plan and manage habitat restoration and enhancement on mvt lands, coordinate the conservation corps mn-ia (ccmi) crew, and assist with refuge projects. Contracted for and coordinated a ccmi crew that conducted habitat enhancement activities over 593 acres across 11 project sites on the refuge complex and an additional 621 acres on other fish & wildlife service lands in other project stations. Contracted for habitat restoration and enhancement work over 170 acres at 4 sites throughout the refuge complex. Completed a 0.8-mile-long trout stream restoration on ike's creek in the long meadow lake unit of the refuge. Located across the street from the mall of america ike's creek is the only known trout stream in hennepin county and harbors a genetically distinct population of native brook trout. The restoration provides improved habitat conditions and will help ensure the sustainability of this unique population.3. Mvt supported special projects and investments to provide a positive, inspiring experience on the refuge for a diversity of visitors. Funded the operations of the rapids lake education and visitor center (evc) and intern bunkhouse. Funded one refuge maintenance position. Completed the donation of an approximately 2,200 square foot manufactured home at the rapids lake evc. The home serves as housing for fire program apprentices and other personnel temporarily assigned to the refuge. Employed a gis specialist & project manager to develop and maintain a geodatabase and trail maintenance dashboard for the refuge, produce high-quality refuge maps for visitor and staff use, coordinate all work related to conveying lands to the usfws and manage it for the refuge. Provided financial support for a temporary facilities manager to operate and maintain the bloomington evc.4. Mvt invested in connecting more people and a diversity of people with the refuge. Provided financial and other support to the Minnesota valley refuge friends. Funded three park ranger positions in visitor services on the refuge. Employed four environmental education teaching interns in full-time one-year positions to develop and deliver content to students, families and visitors on the refuge, at partner schools and in the community. Employed four apprentices in full-time two-year positions to serve on the refuge teams in conservation biology, community outreach and visitor services. Employed a full-time internship coordinator to assist with recruitment and support of the mvt full-time interns and apprentices on the refuge, as well as to lead the refuge's high school internship program. Provided partial financial support for a usfws employed community engagement manager to strengthen refuge partnerships and foster new community connections that build the refuge as a community asset.5. Mvt leveraged its assets. Received $1,254,158 in grant payments on a reimbursement basis from the state of Minnesota and us department of interior for program activities completed as per grant agreements. Was awarded a grant by the 2025 Minnesota legislature in the amount of $1,000,000 as recommended by the lessard-sams outdoor heritage council for metro big rivers phase 15. The grant will

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 84.5%; rating input score 85
• Fundraising efficiency: $186.87 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.9%; rating input score 100; 48th 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: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -43.4%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 11.92; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.5%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.1% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.1% per year; rating input score 100; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings