WILDERNESS INQUIRY INC

EIN: 930708637 501(c)(3) Environment

BLOOMINGTON, MN

Total Revenue
$9,972,306
Total Expenses
$8,544,905
Total Assets
$16,247,643
Net Assets
$12,944,488
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1978
Legal Domicile
MN
Principal Officer
ERIKA RIVERS
Phone
6126769400
Tax Period
2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

WILDERNESS INQUIRY INC, founded in 1978, is a community nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $10.0M in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue decreased 18% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $8.5M left a modest 14% surplus.

Mission

WILDERNESS INQUIRY'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, IDENTITIES, AND ABILITIES THROUGH SHARED OUTDOOR ADVENTURES SO THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN EQUITABLY EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF TIME SPENT IN NATURE.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $4,103,158

DAY & MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS: WILDERNESS INQUIRY DAY PROGRAMS PROVIDES INTRODUCTORY HANDS-ON LEARNING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN MORE THAN 80 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AND NATIONALLY. DAY PROGRAMS...

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DAY & MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS: WILDERNESS INQUIRY DAY PROGRAMS PROVIDES INTRODUCTORY HANDS-ON LEARNING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN MORE THAN 80 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AND NATIONALLY. DAY PROGRAMS SERVE THE MAJORITY OF WILDERNESS INQUIRY'S PARTICIPANTS THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING CANOEMOBILE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY DAYS, OUTDOOR CREDIT RECOVERY, AND VIRTUAL EXPLORERS. THESE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OUTDOOR PROGRAMS CONNECT YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERWAYS, DEVELOP OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, AND ADDRESS THE OPPORTUNITY GAP. WILDERNESS INQUIRY CONTINUES TO OFFER VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. IN 2025, 35,939 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN DAY & MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (1,096 VIRTUALLY).NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 35,939NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 17,082NUMBER OF EVENTS: 400" "DAY PROGRAMS PROVIDES INTRODUCTORY HANDS-ON LEARNING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN MORE THAN 80 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AND NATIONALLY. DAY PROGRAMS SERVE THE MAJORITY OF WILDERNESS INQUIRY'S PARTICIPANTS THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING CANOEMOBILE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY DAYS, OUTDOOR CREDIT RECOVERY, AND VIRTUAL EXPLORERS. THESE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OUTDOOR PROGRAMS CONNECT YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERWAYS, DEVELOP OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, AND ADDRESS THE OPPORTUNITY GAP. WILDERNESS INQUIRY CONTINUES TO OFFER VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. IN 2025, 35,939 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN DAY & MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (1,096 VIRTUALLY).NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 35,939NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 17,082NUMBER OF EVENTS: 400"

Program 2
Expenses: $2,616,491

NEAR NATURE & EXTENDED OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES: OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES BRING PARTICIPANTS TO DESTINATIONS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND ARE DESIGNED TO WELCOME INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF AGE...

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NEAR NATURE & EXTENDED OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES: OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES BRING PARTICIPANTS TO DESTINATIONS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND ARE DESIGNED TO WELCOME INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF AGE, BACKGROUND, IDENTITY, OR ABILITY. INCLUSION IS AT THE HEART OF THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH STRIVE TO CREATE AUTHENTIC AND POSITIVE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. ADVENTURES ARE 2-15 NIGHTS AND INCLUDE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS KAYAKING, CANOEING, HIKING, AND WINTER ADVENTURING. IN 2025, WILDERNESS INQUIRY GUIDED 141 TRIPS TO MORE THAN 20 UNIQUE DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA, COSTA RICA, FLORIDA EVERGLADES, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, ISLE ROYALE, KENYA, AND YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. NEW ITINERARIES IN 2025 INCLUDED BLACK HILLS, MOROCCO, AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. 1,970 PEOPLE TRAVELED WITH WILDERNESS INQUIRY ON OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES IN 2025. NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 1,970NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 8,248NUMBER OF EVENTS: 141"

Program 3
Expenses: $431,962

TRAINING, LEADERSHIP & CAREER PATHWAYS: WILDERNESS INQUIRY OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. IN 2025, PROGRAMS INCLUDED A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH...

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TRAINING, LEADERSHIP & CAREER PATHWAYS: WILDERNESS INQUIRY OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. IN 2025, PROGRAMS INCLUDED A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES PAID, ACCESSIBLE, PROFESSIONAL SKILL-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN BUILDING CAREERS IN THE OUTDOOR AND NONPROFIT JOB SECTORS, AS WELL AS AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FELLOWSHIP, OTHER PARTNERED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND MANY OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TRAININGS. IN TOTAL, WILDERNESS INQUIRY WORKED WITH 403 PEOPLE THROUGH TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, AND CAREER PROGRAMS. NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 403NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 263NUMBER OF EVENTS: 17"

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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 (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $8,158,742
Program Service Revenue $1,268,949
Investment Income $430,062
Other Revenue $114,553
TOTAL REVENUE $9,972,306

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $4,716,911
Fundraising Expenses $260,085
Program Expenses $7,151,611
Other Expenses $3,827,994
TOTAL EXPENSES $8,544,905

Year-over-Year Comparison

2025 2024 Change
Revenue $9,972,306 $12,169,743 -0.2%
Expenses $8,544,905 $7,179,935 +0.2%
Net Income $1,427,401 $4,989,808 -0.7%
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
17
Independent Members
17
Employees
213
Volunteers
366

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
9
$605,848
Total Directors
19
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
CRAIG PETERSON DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JAIME STILSON SECRETARY 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN GRADY DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LAURA FORERO DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LOUIS LAMBERT CHAIR 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MIKISHA NATION VICE CHAIR 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
CECILE BEDOR IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
KELLY DRUMMER DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARY HANLEY DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PAUL KASBOHM DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BILL MCLAUGHLIN DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PAT EVALAND DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KERRY BUNDY DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RACHEL HAMLIN DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROB WUDLICK DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ALISON SPENCER DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BETH FINCH DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN BUTLER DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN HINCK TREASURER 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ERIKA RIVERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer
$194,274 $13,074 $207,348
WILLY TULLY EXTERNAL RELATIONS DIRECTO 40.00
Officer
$118,427 $16,942 $135,369
NELL HOLDEN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DI 40.00
Officer
$120,217 $16,633 $136,850
MARGARET KRUEGER PROGRAM & ADVENTURES 40.00
Officer
$107,771 $18,510 $126,281
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 $9,972,306 $8,544,905 $16,247,643 $1,427,401
2024 $12,169,743 $7,179,935 $15,121,276 $4,989,808
2023 $6,868,887 $5,326,346 $7,457,937 $1,542,541
2022 $4,496,254 $4,311,222 $5,836,742 $185,032
2021 $9,209,787 $3,694,867 $5,540,005 $5,514,920
2020 $3,104,098 $3,112,103 $6,201,588 $-8,005
2019 $4,102,069 $4,307,631 $5,671,167 $-205,562
2018 $4,380,071 $4,182,456 $5,494,609 $197,615
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