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Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).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.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linda Meschke | PRESIDENT | 2023 | $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.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billeye Rabbe | TREASURER | 2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| James Kleinschmit | SECRETARY | 2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2023 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $4K · 1 employee · 2 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINDA MESCHKE | PRESIDENT | 16 | $4,430 | $0 | $0 | $4,430 | 1 |
| BILLEYE RABBE | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| JAMES KLEINSCHMIT | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
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.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $21,046 | $316,345 | $1,166,009 | $1,163,087 | $9,619 | $0 | $4,430 | 1 | 2 |
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
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | show |
| AMAZONSMILE FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “RURAL ADVANTAGE” | 2020-2023 | 4 | $37 | 2023 | $16 | show |
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLNFCR WATER EDUCATION INC | MN | C32 | $10,536 | $9,722 | TREASURER | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state |
| BRIGGS LAKE CHAIN ASSOCIATION | MN | C32 | $31,933 | $34,183 | Editor, Directory Mgr, Membership | $400 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state |
| GLADSTONE LAKE ASSOCIATION | MN | C32 | $17,568 | $6,994 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state |
| LAKE DEMONTREVILLE AND OLSON ASSOCIATION | MN | C32 | $38,238 | $26,049 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state |
| NORTH WOODS AND WATERS OF THE ST CROIX HERITAGE AREA | MN | C32 | $33,630 | $74,570 | BOARD MEMBER | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state |
| CITIZENS FOR BIG STONE LAKE | MN | C32 | $18,304 | $5,490 | SECRETARY | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, same state |
| LONGBRANCH FOUNDATION | WA | C32 | $27,716 | $39,353 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x, similar mission |
| RURAL WATER CENTER INC | SD | C32 | $34,423 | $19,642 | EXECUTIVE DI | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| BUFFALO-DUCK RIVER RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT ASSN | TN | C32 | $15,040 | $18,243 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| THE CLAMSHELL FOUNDATION INC | NY | C32 | $38,046 | $41,466 | Executive Dir. | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP NORTH AMERICA INC | WI | C32 | $36,192 | $1,764 | CHAIR | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| GOING COASTAL INC | CT | C32 | $29,682 | $30,615 | President & CEO | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| ROCK RIVER RESCUE | WI | C32 | $13,739 | $19,119 | Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| GEORGES POND ASSOCIATION | ME | C32 | $30,487 | $47,899 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| WATERFALL KEEPERS OF NORTH CAROLINA | NC | C32 | $21,275 | $29,161 | EXECUTIVE DI | $12,000 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| DRY CREEK CONSERVANCY | CA | C32 | $41,511 | $128,590 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| THE CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVANCY | CA | C32 | $32,177 | $16,578 | Chair/CEO | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| ALAMOSA LAND INSTITUTE | NM | C32 | $11,258 | $36,538 | Treasurer | $3,500 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| SACANDAGA-HUDSON ADVISORY COUNCIL INC | NY | C32 | $14,582 | $450 | CHAIRMAN | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| SWATARA CREEK WATERSHED ASSOCIATION INC | PA | C32 | $18,343 | $6,735 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| RIVERS COALITION INC | FL | C32 | $31,622 | $47,414 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| FRIENDS OF LOWER MUSKINGUM RIVER | OH | C32 | $13,309 | $4,540 | Board Member | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| LAKES AT STAKE WISCONSIN INC | WI | C32 | $36,680 | $56,998 | TREASURER | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT | GA | C32 | $23,626 | $17,664 | PAST-TREASUR | $0 | Same NTEE code C32, revenue within 2x |
| PAWTUCKAWAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION | NH | C32 | $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).
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
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $316,345 | 100% |