Mississippi Park Connection
The mission of the Mississippi Park Connection (MPC) is to strengthen the enduring connection between people and the Mississippi River by enriching the life of the river and the lives of all who experience the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (The National Park). MPC is a 501(c)(3) organization. Mississippi River Paddle Share, LLC, is wholly owned by MPC. MPC engages private citizens, public and private foundations, and industry sources to support the activities of the National Park Service and its partners to enhance the National Park and Mississippi River by: Raising funds to support the National Park's programs. Increasing awareness of the National Park and the Mississippi River. Providing community connection, expertise, and inspiration for the National Park.
Mississippi Park Connection at a glance
In short: Mississippi Park Connection reported $9K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $9,000 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $5,629,863
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $1,781,239
- +15.3% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $190,321
- +38.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $1,342,957
- -11.3% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Mississippi Park Connection
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Mississippi Park Connection
Who Mississippi Park Connection funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2025) to $94K (2021). In 2025 it reported $9K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wilderness Inquiry Inc St. Paul, MN | Youth Education Programs | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,629,863 | $1,781,239 | $1,342,957 | $9,000 | Total only | $190,321 |
| 2024 | $4,858,349 | $1,544,405 | $1,513,484 | $10,000 | Total only | $137,893 |
| 2023 | $4,097,225 | $1,323,520 | $1,353,177 | $20,000 | 1 | $48,881 |
| 2022 | $3,749,419 | $985,197 | $1,159,821 | $67,859 | 1 | $-367,232 |
| 2021 | $4,255,268 | $1,537,707 | $1,302,561 | $93,583 | 3 | $477,246 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Mississippi Park Connection
Based on IRS filings
Mississippi Park Connection is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in St. Paul, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.6M in total assets. In 2025, it reported $9K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $190K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Mississippi Park Connection is led by Ellen Reed, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 2 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen Reed
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$56K (2024) → $130K (2025)
Ramesh Sairam
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Waugh
Assistant Director
Interim Executive Director Jan - Jul → Assistant Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$71K (2023) → $106K (2025)
Amanda Wigen
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barry Clegg
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mangala Acharya
Former Board Member
Board Member → Former Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Ebnet
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Holsen
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Rodriguez
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Anderson
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Haddad
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Sullivan
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Keitel
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Jordan
Vice Chair
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Isadora Blanche
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Catherine Jordan (2021–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Kristin Rasmussen (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Isadora Korak (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Dianne Hickok (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Katie Nyberg (2021–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Leslie Kinsman (2021–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Magnala Acharya (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: James Eastman (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kevion Ellis (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Sullivan (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Scott Parkin (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: John B. Driscoll (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jack Driscoll (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Hahm (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Sonia James (2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $130K, to Ellen Reed (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mississippi Park Connection
How much does Mississippi Park Connection give each year?
Mississippi Park Connection reported $9K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it reported $10K in grants paid.
How large is Mississippi Park Connection?
Mississippi Park Connection reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What is Mississippi Park Connection?
Mississippi Park Connection is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in St. Paul, MN. It holds $5.6M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Mississippi Park Connection operate?
Mississippi Park Connection has awarded grants in Minnesota.
What is Mississippi Park Connection's EIN?
Mississippi Park Connection's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0786530. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Mississippi Park Connection funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mississippi Park Connection's focus areas in our free grants database
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Mississippi Park Connection down — hundreds of funders to go?