MINNESOTA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

MINNESOTA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION

EIN 41-2013696 · Private Independent Foundations (T22)

What they do

THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR FOUNDATIONS MISSION is to PRESERVE and IMPROVE THE HISTORIC MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS and SUPPORT STATE FAIR PROGRAMS and PROJECTS IN AGRICULTURE, ARTS & CULTURE, EDUCATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, and HISTORY.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $67.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders34 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

19.21%of revenue went to mission work67.2% of expenses · Program services

6.33%of revenue went to fundraising22.2% of expenses

$28.56spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

3.03%of revenue went to management and office costs10.6% of expenses

$9.34in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

86.4%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $132,069 for SHANA ZAISER (DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$9,338,544

Mission workProgram services$1,793,59819.21% of revenue67.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$282,6153.03% of revenue10.6% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$590,9596.33% of revenue22.2% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$6,671,37271.44% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$2,667,17228.56% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 67.2% mission · 10.6% management · 22.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 28.56% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 73.0% mission · 11.5% management · 15.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 22.79% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 63.7% mission · 12.5% management · 23.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 64.72% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 62.2% mission · 17.5% management · 20.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 73.97% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 56.1% mission · 22.1% management · 21.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 68.84% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 58.7% mission · 20.8% management · 20.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 121.86% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 61.5% mission · 13.9% management · 24.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 74.14% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 67.9% mission · 13.3% management · 18.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.38% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$9,338,544

Expenses$2,667,172

Annual surplus $6,671,372 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,793,598 · 67.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$282,615 · 10.6% of expenses

Fundraising$590,959 · 22.2% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$9,338,544

Expenses$2,667,172

Assets$24,912,640

Income$9,529,882

Contributions$8,067,791

Mission work (program services)$1,793,598

Fundraising$590,959

Grants given$8,315,121

Average grant$1,187,874

Management and general$282,615

Executive compensation (total)$143,565

Stocks and bonds$3,801,942

Accounting fees$64,510

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

SHANA ZAISERDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $132,069Base $100,826 · Other $31,243

MARY CHUNGEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $1,304Base · Other $1,304

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (34)

SHANA ZAISERDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

MARY CHUNGEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NICOLE BEHNEDIRECTOR

JASON KOERTHPAST CHAIR

JOHN REMESDIRECTOR

KAYLA YANG-BESTDIRECTOR

KEN SANDVIKDIRECTOR

LINDA TANKDIRECTOR

LITTON FIELDCHAIR

LIZ KRAMERDIRECTOR

FRANK SULLIVANDIRECTOR

PEGGY LUCASDIRECTOR

PETE JOHNSONDIRECTOR

RENEE ALEXANDERSECRETARY

STEVE KOZIOLEKDIRECTOR

TED JOHNSONDIRECTOR

TERRI MCENANEYDIRECTOR

DAN SHOGRENDIRECTOR

ANDREA AMESDIRECTOR

ANDREA LARSONDIRECTOR

ANDREA MOKROSDIRECTOR

BRAD RIBARDIRECTOR

CATHY LAWRENCEVICE CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

CHARLIE NAUENDIRECTOR

CHUCK TRYONDIRECTOR

DALE BACHMANDIRECTOR

ALEXANDRIA SCHROEDERDIRECTOR

DANNY GRUNHOVDDIRECTOR

DARRELL THOMPSONDIRECTOR

DAVE RUSTADDIRECTOR

DAVID SORENSENDIRECTOR

DOUG HUEBSCHDIRECTOR

ERIC BRITTTREASURER

FRANK PARISIDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2002
Location: 1265 SNELLING AVENUE NORTH, ST PAUL, MN 551083099
County: Ramsey
In care of: LITTON E S FIELD JR
Primary officer: LITTON E S FIELD JR, BOARD CHAIR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@msffoundation.org Phone(651) 288-4323

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: November 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
NTEE classification: Private Independent Foundations (T22)
IRS tax category: Private Independent Foundations
Grant-giving organization: Yes