Nonprofit · EIN 41-1838192
NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER
Tax-exempt · ELY, MN 55731
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,940,312 | $798,430 | $1,141,882 | $5,950,872 | $93,789 | $5,857,083 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $973,611 | $761,871 | $211,740 | $4,679,242 | $3,042 | $4,676,200 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $713,691 | $734,386 | -$20,695 | $4,371,293 | $11,033 | $4,360,260 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,391,946
- Membership dues
- $17,271
- Program service revenue
- $371,905
- Investment income
- $64,891
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $4,738
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $111,570
- Other revenue
- $111,570
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $71,154
- Other salaries and wages
- $260,528
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $358,327
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $11,800
- Occupancy
- $98,595
- Travel
- $221
- Depreciation
- $206,020
- Program services (functional)
- $678,633
- Management and general (functional)
- $118,837
- Fundraising (functional)
- $960
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $4,679,242
- Total assets, end of year
- $5,950,872
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $93,789
- Net assets, end of year
- $5,857,083
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,711,998
- Publicly traded securities
- $755,087
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,679,310
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $177,773
- Gross receipts
- $2,211,853
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 30
- Year formed
- 1995
- State of legal domicile
- MN
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT EDGETT | SENIOR DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $71,154 |
| DR LYNN ROGERS | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 8 | $0 |
| COLLEEN KNUTH | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE BARINSH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NANCY KRAUSE | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SHIRLEY RICE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CATHY PAULSON | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT EDGETT | SENIOR DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $50,000 |
| DR LYNN ROGERS | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 8 | $0 |
| COLLEEN KNUTH | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE BARINSH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NANCY KRAUSE | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SHIRLEY RICE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CATHY PAULSON | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT EDGETT | SENIOR DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $47,800 |
| LYNN ROGERS | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 8 | $0 |
| JOSEPH EDLUND | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JM BARINSH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NANCY KRAUSE | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SHIRLEY RICE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CATHY PAULSON | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 161, ELY, MN 55731-0161
- In care of
- % LYNN ROGERS
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- LYNN ROGERS
- Signed the 990
- CATHY PAULSON, Treasurer
- Phone
- (218) 365-7879
- Website
- www.bear.org
- Return prepared by
- Walker Giroux & Hahne LLC
Mission
To advance the long-term survival of bears worldwide by replacing misconceptions with scientific facts about bears, their role in ecosystems, and their relations with humans THROUGH AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY IN ELY, MN, WWW.BEAR.ORG WEBSITE, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
Program accomplishments
- PROVIDED INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT BEAR BEHAVIOR AND ITS HABITAT THROUGH THE USE OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS, A CAPTIVE BEAR ENCLOSURE, THE OPERATION OF BOTH AN ONSITE AND ONLINE GIFT SHOP WHICH PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH WEBCAMS, CHATS, AND WEBSITE INFORMATION.Expenses $678,633
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 41-1838192
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1996
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A50)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $5,950,872
- Income (IRS master file)
- $2,211,853
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $1,940,312 | $798,430 | $5,950,872 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $973,611 | $761,871 | $4,679,242 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $713,691 | $734,386 | $4,371,293 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 41-1838192).
Questions about NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER
- What is the EIN of NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER is 41-1838192.
- Is NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1996.
- Are donations to NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names LYNN ROGERS.
- Who are the officers and directors of NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $71,154 (SCOTT EDGETT, SENIOR DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,940,312, expenses of $798,430 and total assets of $5,950,872 at year end.
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