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

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.

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.

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 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.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer 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.

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.