Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) is a public charity based in Burnsville, Minnesota. Formed in 1994, it provides administrative support to a sixteen-member conference and an associate member university that participates only in wrestling.
Key facts about Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
In short: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference gave $124K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 41-1783486
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $123,940
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- Average grant
- $8,263
- Median grant
- $7,400
- Total assets
- $3,546,635
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+14.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$124K
+99.8% YoY
Grant Count
15
+200.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-33.4% YoY
How Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference gives
- 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The NSIC states its mission is to be “a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders.”
The 2025 grant purposes listed include athletics operations and compliance, and academic and life-skills support for athletes. The NSIC also describes the Britton and Kelly Awards: member institutions nominate one male and one female student-athlete, with nominees assessed on academic achievement, institutional involvement, and participation in their sport. The awards are voted on by NSIC Faculty Athletic Representatives.
Among the 2025 recipients, the University of Mary describes its mission as serving the religious, academic, and cultural needs of people in its region and beyond. Minnesota State University, Mankato Foundation describes its mission as securing private gifts and grants to benefit the university and enhancing the university’s ability to achieve its mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the NSIC reported 15 grants totaling $123,940. Grant amounts ranged from $5,089 to $15,450, with a median of $7,400. Listed purposes were primarily athletics operations and compliance; one listed grant supported academic and life-skills programming for athletes.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that recipients in Minnesota received 32% of grant dollars, followed by Ohio (12%), Pennsylvania (12%), Iowa (9%), and North Dakota (9%). Listed recipients also included organizations in Nebraska, North Carolina, California, and South Dakota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 15 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2024) to $124K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $124K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was US Council for Athletes' Health ($15K). Together the top 10 received $98K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 20 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| US Council for Athletes' Health Columbus, OH | Athletics operations and compliance | $15,450 |
| Double L Consulting Ellwood City, PA | Athletics operations and compliance | $15,364 |
| Logo Pro LLC Bettendorf, IA | Academic and lifeskills for athletes | $11,291 |
| Wayne State University Wayne, NE | Athletics operations and compliance | $9,684 |
| Fresh Ideas Charlotte, NC | Athletics operations and compliance | $9,049 |
| I&S Group Inc Mankato, MN | Athletics operations and compliance | $9,000 |
| University of Minnesota Duluth Duluth, MN | Athletics operations and compliance | $8,811 |
| COC Men's Basketball Santa Clarita, CA | Athletics operations and compliance | $7,400 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN | Athletics operations and compliance | $6,111 |
| Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN | Athletics operations and compliance | $5,447 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,546,635 | $1,549,545 | $1,257,943 | $123,940 across 15 grants |
| 2024 | $3,106,235 | $1,238,039 | $937,299 | $62,021 across 5 grants |
| 2023 | $2,807,501 | $1,343,164 | $1,005,551 | 0 grants reported |
The filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,546,635 | $3,106,235 | $2,807,501 |
| Revenue | $1,549,545 | $1,238,039 | $1,343,164 |
| Expenses | $1,257,943 | $937,299 | $1,005,551 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $115,494 | $101,774 | $5,497 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dr Timothy Downs as Chair, Msgr James Shea as Vice-Chair, Dr Marysz Rames as Chair-Elect, and Dr Mary Holz-Clause as Past Chair. Directors listed are Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Dr John Hoffman, Rev Dr Brian Friedrick, Dr Polly Peterson, Dr Charles Nies, and Dr Edward Inch.
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is led by Timothy Downs, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2024); 1 of 17 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Timothy Downs
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Bradfield
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Friedrick
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Inch
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kumara Jayasuriya
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neal Schnoor
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Shirley
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hoffman
Director
Board of Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Nies
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Janz
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Dietz
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Polly Peterson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Lind
Commissioner
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$166K (2023) → $240K (2025)
Mary Holz-Clause
Past Chair
Board of Director → Director, 2024
Director → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marysz Rames
Chair-Elect
Board of Director → Director, 2024
Director → Chair-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Msgr James Shea
Vice Chair
Board of Director → Director, 2024
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Robbyn Wacker (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Scott Olson (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Ken Janz (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: William Duffy (2021–2023) — Board of Director
- Former: Tom Downs (2023) — Board of Director
- Former: Anne Blackhurst (2021–2022) — Board of Director
- Former: David McMillan (2022) — Board of Director
- Former: Faith Hensrud (2021) — Board of Director
- Former: Lendley Black (2021) — Board of Director
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 $240K, to Erin Lind (Commissioner).
Contact
Mailing address: 2999 County Road 42 West Suite 136, Burnsville, MN 55306
Phone: (952) 500-8052
Website: https://northernsun.org
Frequently asked questions about Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
How much does Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference give each year?
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference gave $124K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2024 it gave $62K across 5 grants.
What is Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's typical grant size?
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's median grant in 2025 was $7,400, and its average grant was $8,263, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference give grants?
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's top state is Minnesota, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest states were Ohio (12%) and Pennsylvania (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mankato, MN (2 grants).
Does Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's 2025 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Athletics operations and compliance" (14 grants).
Who are Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's largest grantees?
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's largest 2025 grantees include US Council for Athletes' Health ($15,450), Double L Consulting ($15,364) and Logo Pro LLC ($11,291), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference?
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What does Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference fund?
The NSIC states its mission is to be “a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference?
In filing year 2025, the NSIC reported 15 grants totaling $123,940. Grant amounts ranged from $5,089 to $15,450, with a median of $7,400. Listed purposes were primarily athletics operations and compliance; one listed grant supported academic and life-skills programming for athletes.
What is Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's EIN?
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1783486. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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