STRATEGY STUDIO / PUBLIC DATA EXPLORER

RURAL ADVANTAGE

Cite this

Plain text RURAL ADVANTAGE. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2023. https://strategystudio.org/org/861087174. Retrieved 2026-10-19.

APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). RURAL ADVANTAGE [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2023]. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/861087174

MLA “RURAL ADVANTAGE.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2023, https://strategystudio.org/org/861087174. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Retrieved 2026-10-19; covers tax years 2023. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.

2023 · Form 990 · revenue $21K · expenses $316K · assets $1.2M

EIN
86-1087174
Address
301 DIVISION STREET S, NORTHFIELD, MN 55057-2035
Website
WWW.RURALADVANTAGE.ORG
NTEE code
C32
Subsection
501(c)(3)
Ruling year
2004
Cross-check
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Mission

THE PURPOSE OF THIS CORPORATION IS TO PROMOTE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN AGRICULTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC VIABILITY, AND RURAL VITALITY.

Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).

People paid by the organization

1 person paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsLatest year payTotal pay from hereOrganizations
Linda Meschke PRESIDENT2023 $4,430$4,430 1

Officers and directors, no compensation reported

2 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsHrs/wk (latest)CompensationOrganizations
Billeye Rabbe TREASURER2023 1 $0 reported 1
James Kleinschmit SECRETARY2023 1 $0 reported 1

People by year

2023 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $4K · 1 employee · 2 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
LINDA MESCHKE PRESIDENT16 $4,430$0$0 $4,4301
BILLEYE RABBE TREASURER1 $0$0$0 $01
JAMES KLEINSCHMIT SECRETARY1 $0$0$0 $01

Highest-paid independent contractors

No independent contractors reported.

Who the money went to

Grants this organization reported paying: Schedule I Part II of the Form 990, or the grants-paid list on the 990-PF. Open a year for every recipient. Recipients link to their own page when the grant names an EIN we have (990-PF grants list no EIN, so those link only on an exact, unique name and state). Grants to individuals are counted; their names are not shown.

2023 · 1 grant to organizations · $300K

Negative amounts are returned or refunded grants; they are listed last and left out of the totals of grants paid.

Who gave

Contributor names are not public for this form type.

Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.

Finances

Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.

RevenueExpensesAssetsNet assetsContributionsProgram revenueOfficer payEmployeesVolunteers
2023 · Form 990 period ending 2023-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$21,046$316,345 $1,166,009$1,163,087 $9,619$0 $4,43012

Funders of this organization

4 grantors reported grants to this organization, $310,537 in all, tax years 2010 to 2023. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV

GrantorTypeMatchYears givenGrantsTotalLatest yearLatest year's amountGrants
THE SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “RURAL ADVANTAGE” 2020 1$300,000 2020$300,000
show
MINNESOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor Exact 2014 1$5,500 2014$5,500
show
STEVEN C LEUTHOLD FAMILY FOUNDATION Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “RURAL ADVANTAGE” 2010 1$5,000 2010$5,000
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AMAZONSMILE FOUNDATION Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “RURAL ADVANTAGE” 2020-2023 4$37 2023$16
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Similar organizations

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OrganizationStateNTEELatest revenueLatest expensesTop-paid titleTop payWhy similar
GLNFCR WATER EDUCATION INCMNC32 $10,536$9,722 TREASURER$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state
BRIGGS LAKE CHAIN ASSOCIATIONMNC32 $31,933$34,183 Editor, Directory Mgr, Membership$400 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state
GLADSTONE LAKE ASSOCIATIONMNC32 $17,568$6,994 DIRECTOR$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state
LAKE DEMONTREVILLE AND OLSON ASSOCIATIONMNC32 $38,238$26,049 President$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state
NORTH WOODS AND WATERS OF THE ST CROIX HERITAGE AREAMNC32 $33,630$74,570 BOARD MEMBER$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state
CITIZENS FOR BIG STONE LAKEMNC32 $18,304$5,490 SECRETARY$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state
LONGBRANCH FOUNDATIONWAC32 $27,716$39,353 President$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, similar mission
RURAL WATER CENTER INCSDC32 $34,423$19,642 EXECUTIVE DI$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
BUFFALO-DUCK RIVER RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT ASSNTNC32 $15,040$18,243 President$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
THE CLAMSHELL FOUNDATION INCNYC32 $38,046$41,466 Executive Dir.$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP NORTH AMERICA INCWIC32 $36,192$1,764 CHAIR$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
GOING COASTAL INCCTC32 $29,682$30,615 President & CEO$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
ROCK RIVER RESCUEWIC32 $13,739$19,119 Treasurer$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
GEORGES POND ASSOCIATIONMEC32 $30,487$47,899 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
WATERFALL KEEPERS OF NORTH CAROLINANCC32 $21,275$29,161 EXECUTIVE DI$12,000 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
DRY CREEK CONSERVANCYCAC32 $41,511$128,590 Director$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
THE CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVANCYCAC32 $32,177$16,578 Chair/CEO$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
ALAMOSA LAND INSTITUTENMC32 $11,258$36,538 Treasurer$3,500 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
SACANDAGA-HUDSON ADVISORY COUNCIL INCNYC32 $14,582$450 CHAIRMAN$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
SWATARA CREEK WATERSHED ASSOCIATION INCPAC32 $18,343$6,735 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
RIVERS COALITION INCFLC32 $31,622$47,414 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
FRIENDS OF LOWER MUSKINGUM RIVEROHC32 $13,309$4,540 Board Member$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
LAKES AT STAKE WISCONSIN INCWIC32 $36,680$56,998 TREASURER$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENTGAC32 $23,626$17,664 PAST-TREASUR$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x
PAWTUCKAWAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONNHC32 $18,934$24,941 President$0 Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x

Who funds organizations like this

Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).

GrantorTypeTotal givenGrantsOrganizations fundedYearsWhich ones
MAYBELLE CLARK MACDONALD FUND Private foundation$265,0008 12015–2023 UPPER DESCHUTES RIVER COALITION
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND DAF sponsor$144,95010 52016–2023 GLOBAL WATER ALLIANCE; FRIENDS OF BLUE HOLE; THE CLAMSHELL FOUNDATION INC; COLUMBIA RIVER BIOREGIONAL EDUCATION PROJECT and 1 more
NATURE CONSERVANCY DAF sponsor$131,2542 22012–2016 ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP NORTH AMERICA INC; GUALALA RIVER WATERSHED INC
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING DAF sponsor$118,0527 52015–2024 NORTH WOODS AND WATERS OF THE ST CROIX HERITAGE AREA; FRIENDS OF BLUE HOLE; FRIENDS OF COLORADO LAGOON; COLUMBIA RIVER BIOREGIONAL EDUCATION PROJECT and 1 more
GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$108,0009 12011–2022 FRIENDS OF BLUE HOLE
POSSIBILITY LABS DAF sponsor$100,0001 12024–2024 HOUSATONIC RIVER INITIATIVE INC
CAPE COD FOUNDATION INC DAF sponsor$91,18512 12014–2025 OCEAN ARKS INTERNATIONAL INC
QUIMBY FAMILY FOUNDATION Private foundation$60,0002 12014–2015 FRIENDS OF THE PRESUMPSCOT RIVER
PATAGONIAORG Private foundation$53,0004 22013–2017 COLUMBIA RIVER BIOREGIONAL EDUCATION PROJECT; FRIENDS OF THE PRESUMPSCOT RIVER
THE BATCHELOR FOUNDATION INC Private foundation$50,0002 12020–2023 CONSERVIAN INC
ELMINA B SEWALL FOUNDATION Private foundation$45,0003 12020–2022 FRIENDS OF THE PRESUMPSCOT RIVER
PAYPAL CHARITABLE GIVING FUND DAF sponsor$44,3545 32020–2023 COLUMBIA RIVER BIOREGIONAL EDUCATION PROJECT; HOUSATONIC RIVER INITIATIVE INC; MALAMA NA APAPA
ADAMS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC DAF sponsor$43,2564 12022–2025 WATERSHED ALLIANCE OF ADAMS COUNTY INC
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$36,3753 12010–2013 LAKE PARKS FOUNDATION
UMPQUA BANK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Private foundation$35,0001 12024–2024 UPPER DESCHUTES RIVER COALITION

The full list · all similar organizations

Where the money went

Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.

2023 · Form 990 · $316,345 spent · pay $6,869 · grants $300,000 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Grants to US organizations and governments $300,000$300,000-- 94.8%
Office expenses $5,325-$5,325- 1.7%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $4,430-$4,430- 1.4%
Depreciation and depletion $3,151$3,151-- 1.0%
Other salaries and wages $1,381$1,381-- 0.4%
Payroll taxes $1,058$1,058-- 0.3%
Insurance $1,000$1,000-- 0.3%
Total$316,345100%

View the filing