Happy Dancing Turtle
Happy Dancing Turtle is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Pine River, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $11.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $26K. Net investment income was $555K.
Key facts about Happy Dancing Turtle
In short: Happy Dancing Turtle gave $26K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-4188279
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $26,261
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- Average grant
- $3,283
- Median grant
- $143
- Total assets
- $11,746,692
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.7M
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$26K
-12.8% YoY
Grant Count
8
-27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+20.0% YoY
How Happy Dancing Turtle gives
- Giving grew 451% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 8 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WONDERTEK CHILDREN'S MUSEUM Brainerd, MN | CORNERSTORN COMMITMENT | $25,000 |
| PINE RIVER AREA FOUNDATION Pine River, MN | BLUGRASS FESTIVAL SPONSOR | $500 |
| BRAINERD LAKES AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION St Cloud, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250 |
| NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO INC Grand Rapids, MN | SPONSORSHIP OF UOFM EXTENSION CRSDP LAKES AREA SUSTAINABILITY FEST | $186 |
| PINE RIVER-BACKUS FAMILY CENTER Pine River, MN | IN LIEU OF RADIOTHON TO END CHILD ABUSE | $100 |
| PINE RIVER-BACKUS PTO Pine River, MN | PTO - FAMILY FUN NIGHT | $100 |
| XERCES SOCIETY INC Portland, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75 |
| FRIENDS OF THE TREMPEALEAU LIBRARY Trempealeau, WI | DONATION TO FUNDRAISER | $50 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,746,692 | $11,026,244 | $10,091,617 |
| Revenue | $712,861 | $550,020 | $220,209 |
| Expenses | $829,390 | $741,237 | $904,314 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $712,853 | $623,479 | $944,044 |
| Net Investment Income | $554,786 | $556,881 | $159,488 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Happy Dancing Turtle is led by Quinn Swanson, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 12 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Quinn Swanson
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Lynn Hunt
Chair
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Don Hickman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erika Bailey Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Anderholm
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexa Shapiro
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deanne Trottier
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Mitchell
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Thesing
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Hunt
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Paul Hunt
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Chris Lindholm (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Molly Zins (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lissa Pawlisch (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Bernie Roberts (2020) — Director
- Former: John Poston (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
Frequently asked questions about Happy Dancing Turtle
How much does Happy Dancing Turtle give each year?
Happy Dancing Turtle gave $26K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $30K across 11 grants.
What is Happy Dancing Turtle's typical grant size?
Happy Dancing Turtle's median grant in 2024 was $143, and its average grant was $3,283, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Happy Dancing Turtle give grants?
Happy Dancing Turtle gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pine River, MN (3 grants).
Does Happy Dancing Turtle give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of Happy Dancing Turtle's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Happy Dancing Turtle's largest grantees?
Happy Dancing Turtle's largest 2024 grantees include Wondertek Children's Museum ($25,000), Pine River Area Foundation ($500) and Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation ($250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Happy Dancing Turtle?
Happy Dancing Turtle reported $11.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $713K.
What is Happy Dancing Turtle?
Happy Dancing Turtle is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Pine River, MN. It holds $11.7M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Happy Dancing Turtle's EIN?
Happy Dancing Turtle's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4188279. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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