Happy Dancing Turtle

Happy Dancing Turtle maintains strong assets despite recent operating deficits and reports no officer compensation.

EIN: 204188279 · Pine River, MN · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$2.5MRevenue
$11.7MAssets
85/100Mission Score (Excellent)
T22

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Happy Dancing Turtle Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$2.5M
Total Expenses$741K
Program Spending85%
CEO/Top Officer Pay$11
Net Assets$11.0M
Transparency Score85/100

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Happy Dancing Turtle Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals

Happy Dancing Turtle is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Happy Dancing Turtle in one place.

Form 990 Filing Summary

10 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $550K and expenses of $741K.

Revenue and Expenses

Happy Dancing Turtle reported $550K in revenue and $741K in expenses, a deficit of $191K.

Executive Compensation

Top officer compensation appears as $11 in the stored analysis, with context against revenue and expenses below.

Charity Score and Red Flags

85/100 mission score, 1 red flag, and 4 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.

Is Happy Dancing Turtle Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
GoodTransparency
1 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

IRS 990 Data Cockpit

Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes

PendingDonor/Grant Funding
85%Program Expense
$0Grants Paid
10Stored Filing Years

Revenue Source Mix

Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.

Expense Deployment

Happy Dancing Turtle Expense Deployment
Program services$630K (85%)

Across stored filings, Happy Dancing Turtle shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.

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Happy Dancing Turtle Donor Decision Matrix
Decision LensSignalWhat to Inspect Next
LegitimacySome ConcernsGood filing record; 1 red flag identified
Mission spend85% to programsExcellent
Financial durabilityGrade B10 stored filing years
Peer contextCompare with North American Lake Management SocietyMinnesota and Philanthropy context

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Happy Dancing Turtle directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Happy Dancing Turtle

Happy Dancing Turtle (EIN: 204188279) is a nonprofit organization based in Pine River, MN, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $2.5M and total assets of $11.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Happy Dancing Turtle's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

19Years Operating
Mid-SizeSize Classification
10Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

Happy Dancing Turtle is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.0%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$550K
Total Expenses$741K
Surplus / Deficit$-191,217
Total Assets$11.0M
Total Liabilities$48K
Net Assets$11.0M
Operating Margin-34.8%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio0.4%
Months of Reserves178.5 months

Financial Health Grade: B

In 2023, Happy Dancing Turtle reported a deficit of $191K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 178.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.4% (very low leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Happy Dancing Turtle's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023+149.8%-18.0%+9.3%
2022-57.5%+74.8%-16.2%
2021+47.4%-0.1%+8.9%
2020-12.4%-23.8%+7.8%
2019+19.9%-1.9%+19.4%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes1200
IRS Ruling Date2007

Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.

AI Transparency Report

Happy Dancing Turtle demonstrates a consistent commitment to its mission, as evidenced by its stable asset base and zero reported officer compensation across all available filings. While the organization has experienced fluctuations in annual revenue and expenses, with recent periods showing expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 202312: Revenue $550,020, Expenses $741,237; 202212: Revenue $220,209, Expenses $904,314), its substantial assets of $11,746,692 (latest reported) provide a strong financial cushion. The lack of reported officer compensation is a significant positive indicator of transparency and a focus on mission-driven spending rather than executive enrichment. The organization's financial health appears stable due to its significant assets, despite operating deficits in several recent years. The NTEE code T22 (Environmental Education) suggests a program-heavy operational model. Without detailed expense breakdowns (program, admin, fundraising), it's challenging to precisely assess spending efficiency, but the absence of executive compensation suggests a lean operational structure at the top. The consistent filing history further indicates good governance and transparency.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Happy Dancing Turtle with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.

Spending Breakdown

  • admin: 10%
  • programs: 85%
  • fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Happy Dancing Turtle allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

$550KTotal Revenue
$741KTotal Expenses
$11.0MTotal Assets
$48KTotal Liabilities
$11.0MNet Assets
  • The organization reported a deficit of $191K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
  • Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Happy Dancing Turtle consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all ten available IRS 990 filings, indicating a strong commitment to directing resources towards its mission rather than executive salaries, which is highly commendable for an organization of its size with assets exceeding $11 million.

Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.

Red Flags

The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Happy Dancing Turtle's IRS 990 filings:

  • Consistent operating deficits in recent years (e.g., 202312: -$191,217; 202212: -$684,105), which, if sustained, could erode assets over time.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Happy Dancing Turtle:

  • Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, indicating excellent financial stewardship and mission focus.
  • Substantial and growing asset base ($11,746,692 latest, up from $8.4M in 2011) providing long-term financial stability.
  • Consistent IRS 990 filing history (10 filings), demonstrating transparency and good governance.
  • Low liabilities relative to assets (e.g., $47,607 in 202312 vs. $11,026,244 assets), indicating a healthy balance sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions about Happy Dancing Turtle

Is Happy Dancing Turtle a legitimate charity?

Happy Dancing Turtle (EIN: 204188279) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Minnesota. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.5M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.

How does Happy Dancing Turtle spend its money?

Happy Dancing Turtle directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.

Are donations to Happy Dancing Turtle tax-deductible?

Happy Dancing Turtle is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204188279). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

How much does the Happy Dancing Turtle CEO make?

Happy Dancing Turtle's highest-compensated officer earns $11 annually. The organization reported $2.5M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.

What percentage of Happy Dancing Turtle's spending goes to programs?

Happy Dancing Turtle directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

How does Happy Dancing Turtle compare to similar nonprofits?

With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Happy Dancing Turtle is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.

Where is Happy Dancing Turtle located?

Happy Dancing Turtle is headquartered in Pine River, Minnesota and files with the IRS under EIN 204188279. It is classified under NTEE code T22.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does Happy Dancing Turtle have?

Happy Dancing Turtle has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $2.5M in total revenue.

Is Happy Dancing Turtle a good charity?

Based on the available data, Happy Dancing Turtle appears to be a good charity. It has a strong asset base ($11,746,692), a consistent filing history, and notably reports no officer compensation, suggesting a high dedication to its mission and efficient use of funds at the executive level.

Why are expenses higher than revenue in recent years?

In recent periods (e.g., 202312 and 202212), Happy Dancing Turtle's expenses have exceeded its revenue. This could be due to strategic investments, timing of grants, or drawing from reserves to fund programs. Given its substantial assets, these deficits do not immediately indicate financial distress but warrant further investigation into the specific reasons.

How does Happy Dancing Turtle fund its operations with fluctuating revenue?

Happy Dancing Turtle likely relies on its significant asset base ($11,746,692) to absorb periods of lower revenue or higher expenses. Its assets have grown from $8,471,925 in 2011 to over $11 million, providing a substantial buffer and indicating sound long-term financial management despite annual fluctuations.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Happy Dancing Turtle showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Happy Dancing Turtle's revenue has grown by 124.9%, moving from $245K to $550K. Total assets increased by 30.2% over the same period, from $8.5M to $11.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 58.8%, from $467K to $741K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Happy Dancing Turtle reported a deficit of $191K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $48K in liabilities against $11.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.4%), resulting in net assets of $11.0M.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $550K $741K $11.0M $48K View 990
2022 $220K $904K $10.1M $63K View 990
2021 $518K $517K $12.0M $39K View 990
2020 $351K $518K $11.1M $59K View 990
2019 $401K $680K $10.3M $58K View 990
2015 $334K $694K $8.6M $75K View 990
2014 $793K $588K $9.1M $14K View 990
2013 $398K $577K $9.2M $2K View 990
2012 $716K $524K $8.9M $23K View 990
2011 $245K $467K $8.5M $89K View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

  • 2023: Revenue of $550K, expenses of $741K, and assets of $11.0M (revenue +149.8% year-over-year).
  • 2022: Revenue of $220K, expenses of $904K, and assets of $10.1M (revenue -57.5% year-over-year).
  • 2021: Revenue of $518K, expenses of $517K, and assets of $12.0M (revenue +47.4% year-over-year).
  • 2020: Revenue of $351K, expenses of $518K, and assets of $11.1M (revenue -12.4% year-over-year).
  • 2019: Revenue of $401K, expenses of $680K, and assets of $10.3M (revenue +19.9% year-over-year).
  • 2015: Revenue of $334K, expenses of $694K, and assets of $8.6M (revenue -57.9% year-over-year).
  • 2014: Revenue of $793K, expenses of $588K, and assets of $9.1M (revenue +99.3% year-over-year).
  • 2013: Revenue of $398K, expenses of $577K, and assets of $9.2M (revenue -44.4% year-over-year).
  • 2012: Revenue of $716K, expenses of $524K, and assets of $8.9M (revenue +192.6% year-over-year).
  • 2011: Revenue of $245K, expenses of $467K, and assets of $8.5M.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Happy Dancing Turtle:

2023 Filing 2022 Filing 2021 Filing 2020 Filing 2019 Filing 2015 Filing 2014 Filing 2013 Filing 2012 Filing 2011 Filing

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Happy Dancing Turtle is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.

IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.

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