The Cookie Cart

EIN: 411866804 501(c)(3) Youth Development

Minneapolis, MN

Total Revenue
$1,545,141
Total Expenses
$2,303,030
Total Assets
$4,382,317
Net Assets
$3,240,311
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1988
Legal Domicile
MN
Principal Officer
Jacquelyn Carpenter
Phone
6128431946
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

The Cookie Cart, founded in 1988, is a community nonprofit in the Youth Development sector that reported $1.5M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue fell 40% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $2.3M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 49% operating deficit.

Mission

Cookie Cart teaches life, leadership, and employment skills to young people through on-the-job and classroom experiences in nonprofit bakeries.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $735,384

Youth Development: The Organization's employment program is a first job experience designed to build career readiness, leadership, and life skills for teens ages 14-18. Through paid work-based...

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Youth Development: The Organization's employment program is a first job experience designed to build career readiness, leadership, and life skills for teens ages 14-18. Through paid work-based learning, youth gain real-world experience in a supportive, skill-building environment. Participants work up to 9 hours/week during the school year and up to 9-15 hours/week in the summer, engaging in a structured pathway that promotes growth in five key areas: Interpersonal Skills and Critical Thinking, Goal Orientation, Employment Readiness, Citizenship, and Financial Literacy. Cookie Cart's programming typically serves 150-200 young people annually, a majority of which qualify for free or reduced lunch and over 95 percent are from communities of color.

Program 2
Expenses: $393,354 Revenue: $145,194

Production: The Organization's bakeries serve as classrooms where youth build essential skills for future success. Young people have the option to obtain industry-recognized certifications, including...

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Production: The Organization's bakeries serve as classrooms where youth build essential skills for future success. Young people have the option to obtain industry-recognized certifications, including the Northstar Digital Literacy Certificate, ServSafe Food Handler Certification (MN Dept. of Health standards), and the National Career Readiness Certification (ACT), and they also participate in career exposure activities such as workplace visits, college tours, and career panels, helping them envision and plan for their futures.

Program 3
Expenses: $225,919 Revenue: $48,398

Customer Service and Community Outreach: Provides youth with dynamic opportunities to apply their customer service training in real-world settings. Whether greeting customers at the bakery counter...

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Customer Service and Community Outreach: Provides youth with dynamic opportunities to apply their customer service training in real-world settings. Whether greeting customers at the bakery counter, managing transactions, or representing the Organization at community events, teens practice essential workplace skills such as communication, professionalism, and problem-solving.Youth learn how to promote the Organization's mission and products, especially the signature cookies, by engaging with customers, sharing the story of the organization, and encouraging community support. These experiences help teens understand the importance of brand representation, product knowledge, and relationship building in a business environment.In addition to in-store interactions, youth participate in pop-up shops, tabling events, and corporate outreach, where they gain exposure to marketing strategies and sales techniques. These activities reinforce their understanding of how customer service connects to broader business goals and community impact.By selling cookies and promoting the bakery, youth not only contribute to the sustainability of the Organization, they also build confidence, develop entrepreneurial thinking, and strengthen their ability to advocate for themselves and their community.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,377,604
Program Service Revenue $25,505
Investment Income $22,365
Other Revenue $119,667
TOTAL REVENUE $1,545,141

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $1,330,719
Fundraising Expenses $216,121
Program Expenses $1,370,594
Other Expenses $876,381
TOTAL EXPENSES $2,303,030

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $1,545,141 $2,580,004 -0.4%
Expenses $2,303,030 $2,811,403 -0.2%
Net Income $-757,889 $-231,399 +2.3%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
15
Independent Members
15
Employees
144
Volunteers
37

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$198,298
Total Directors
15
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Megan Fritz Secretary 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Dan Kinsella Treasurer 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Willie Harbert Board Chair 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Jennifer Willner Board Member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jolynn Fielder Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Sharon Grice Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Tom Goettl Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Clint Roberts Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Emily Koski Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jesse Horowitz Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Kimberly Voigt Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Scott Anderson Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Chris Farley Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Kojo Baafi Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jessica Berns Board member 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jacquelyn Carter Executive Director 40.00
Officer
$75,646 $9,867 $85,513
Patrick Stoe Director of Operations & Social Enterprise 40.00
Officer
$109,600 $3,185 $112,785
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $1,545,141 $2,303,030 $4,382,317 $-757,889
2024 $2,580,004 $2,811,403 $5,254,152 $-231,399
2023 $2,735,724 $2,934,735 $5,490,137 $-199,011
2022 $2,619,911 $2,647,037 $5,749,179 $-27,126
2021 $1,048,446 $1,379,539 $5,899,422 $-331,093
2020 $3,174,281 $2,871,723 $6,323,417 $302,558
2019 $2,810,490 $2,762,411 $5,964,803 $48,079
2018 $2,908,364 $2,459,039 $6,222,581 $449,325
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