Wild Compass Environmental Education
Wild Compass is an enviromental learning center providing educational programs thorugh southwest Minnesota. The primary focus of the Wild Compasss programming is through field trips with area schools.
Wild Compass Environmental Education at a glance
In short: Wild Compass Environmental Education gave $144K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $143,924
- +139.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,785
- +139.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $23,000
- Total assets
- $367,642
- -21.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Wild Compass Environmental Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mankato Area Public Schools ($50K). Together the top 5 received $144K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 23 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wild Compass Environmental Education gives
- Giving grew 365% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2023) to $144K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $144K.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mankato Area Public Schools Mankato, MN | Camp Ignite, field trips, theater, bussing | $49,924 |
| South Central Service Cooperative Mankato, MN | Programming & Conferences | $38,000 |
| Project GEM Pemberton, MN | Youth programs | $23,000 |
| Jackson County Central Schools Jackson, MN | Field trips, equipment, bussing | $23,000 |
| Children's Museum of Southern MN Mankato, MN | Upkeep displays and programs | $10,000 |
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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 | $367,642 | $214,284 | $325,141 | $143,924 | 5 | $510 |
| 2024 | $467,190 | $368,055 | $303,861 | $60,020 | 5 | $6,823 |
| 2023 | $402,188 | $294,631 | $346,499 | $16,100 | 1 | $414 |
| 2022 | $446,523 | $288,273 | $326,655 | $30,955 | 3 | $474 |
| 2021 | $489,192 | $289,609 | $219,359 | $86,370 | 9 | $528 |
| 2020 | $418,430 | $213,115 | $254,653 | $16,844 | Total only | $1,295 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Wild Compass Environmental Education
Based on IRS filings
Wild Compass Environmental Education is a public charity, based in Lakefield, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $368K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $144K. Net investment income was $510.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Wild Compass Environmental Education is led by Alisha Paplow, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alisha Paplow
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$47K (2020) → $71K (2025)
Ed Harrold
Chair
Member → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Schwartz
Member & Gambling Manager
Gambling Manager June-Dec → Gambling Manager, 2023
Gambling Manager → Member & Gambling Manager, 2024
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
$13K (2022) → $51K (2025)
Jill Miller
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Craun
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miranda Timko Nesseth
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Nasby
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bethany Lewis
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luke Ewald
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Burmeister
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynette Lusk
Member Jan-May
Member → Member Jan-May, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valarie Cihak
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Bachenberg
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Johnson
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Kilian
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kateyan Welp
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Rob Arp (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Doug Busch (2023–2024) — Member
- Former: Danielle Matais (2024) — Member
- Former: Emily Regnier (2024) — Member
- Former: Dan Livdahl (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: Gordon Olson (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Nancy Ackerman (2020–2023) — Bookkeeper & Member
- Former: Sally Anne Benson (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Brian Rossow (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Jordan Burmeister (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Emily Reigner (2023) — Chair
- Former: Kacey Voelker (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Kathy Fransen (2020–2021) — Member Jan - Sept
- Former: Rosemary Schultz (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Suzy Koster (2020–2021) — Treasurer Jan-Aug
- Former: Cheryl Ulferts (2020) — Treasurer Jan-Oct
- Former: Tamie Morphew-Egge (2020) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $71K, to Alisha Paplow (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wild Compass Environmental Education
How much does Wild Compass Environmental Education give each year?
Wild Compass Environmental Education gave $144K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $60K across 5 grants.
What is Wild Compass Environmental Education's typical grant size?
Wild Compass Environmental Education's median grant in 2025 was $23,000, and its average grant was $28,785, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Wild Compass Environmental Education give grants?
Wild Compass Environmental Education gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mankato, MN (3 grants).
Does Wild Compass Environmental Education give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Wild Compass Environmental Education's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Wild Compass Environmental Education's largest grantees?
Wild Compass Environmental Education's largest 2025 grantees include Mankato Area Public Schools ($49,924), South Central Service Cooperative ($38,000) and Project GEM ($23,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wild Compass Environmental Education?
Wild Compass Environmental Education reported $368K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $214K.
What is Wild Compass Environmental Education's EIN?
Wild Compass Environmental Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1675295. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 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 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 1, 2026)
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