Nonprofit · EIN 37-1389458
BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC
Tax-exempt · ALTAMONT, IL 62411
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $294,254 | $169,705 | $124,549 | $2,668,685 | $0 | $2,668,685 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $257,889 | $152,907 | $104,982 | $2,466,910 | $0 | $2,466,910 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $204,991 | $129,082 | $75,909 | $2,286,316 | $725 | $2,285,591 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $50,439
- Program service revenue
- $11,297
- Investment income
- $129,458
- Net rental income
- $15,943
- Net income from fundraising events
- $77,191
- Other revenue
- $103,060
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $71,250
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $76,558
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $2,442
- Occupancy
- $16,914
- Depreciation
- $20,481
- Program services (functional)
- $136,640
- Management and general (functional)
- $33,065
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,466,910
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,668,685
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,668,685
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,108,071
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,668,685
- Gross receipts
- $311,574
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 30
- Year formed
- 1999
- State of legal domicile
- IL
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARAN GREUEL | CO-DIRECTOR Officer | 23 | $42,750 |
| KATRINA DAVIS | CO-DIRECTOR Officer | 15 | $28,500 |
| LYNN HIGGS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE NIEMERG | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BILLIE BALES | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| TERRY PROBST | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MARK FLACK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN ROEPKE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOE FEARDAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DEBBIE CLAGG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRETT HIGGS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SAMI CHILDERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TERRY ESKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JAKE BUHNERKEMPE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SARAH BUHNERKEMPE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRIS NIEBRUGEE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STAN KIRCHHOFER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARAN GRUEL | CO-DIRECTOR Officer | 23 | $39,164 |
| KATRINA DAVIS | CO-DIRECTOR Officer | 15 | $24,356 |
| TERRY ESKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| DEBBIE CLAGG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS NIEBRUGGE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MARK FLACK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN ROEPKE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BILLIE BALES | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRETT HIGGS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LYNN HIGGS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SAMI CHILDERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TERRY PROBST | TREASURER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOE FEARDAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE NIEMERG | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JAKE BUHNERKEMPE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SARAH BUHNERKEMPE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STAN KIRCHHOFER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARAN GRUEL | CO-DIRECTOR Officer | 23 | $34,670 |
| JOYCE GREEN | CO-DIRECTOR Officer | 15 | $9,829 |
| TERRY ESKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MARY ANN HOEFFLIGER | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| DEBBIE CLAGG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS NIEBRUGGE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MARK FLACK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN ROEPKE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BILLIE BALES | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRETT HIGGS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LYNN HIGGS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SAMI CHILDERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TERRY PROBST | TREASURER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOE FEARDAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE NIEMERG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JAKE BUHNERKEMPE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SARAH BUHNERKEMPE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 5253 E US HIGHWAY 40, ALTAMONT, IL 62411-2485
- In care of
- % ROGER JANSEN
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- LYNN HIGGS, 5253 EAST US HWY 40, ALTAMONT, IL 62411
- Signed the 990
- LYNN HIGGS, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (618) 483-6856
- Website
- BALLARDNATURECENTER.ORG
- Return prepared by
- WEST & COMPANY LLC
Mission
THE MISSION OF BALLARD NATURE CENTER IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGH VISITOR INTERPRETATION, EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS, NATURAL COMMUNITY RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WILL EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED ECOSYSTEMS ESPECIALLY THOSE COMMUNITIES TYPICALLY FOUND IN SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS.
Program accomplishments
- TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR A COMMUNITY NATURE CENTER AND SUPPORT AND OPERATE EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER NATURE INTERPRETATIVE PROGRAMS. THE FACILITY ACHIEVES THIS PURPOSE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BY SERVING 31 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, CLASSES, DISPLAYS, TRAILS, AND VARIOUS OTHER MEANS. THE CENTER PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY 35 SESSIONS OF 1-DAY KIDS CAMPS, APPROXIMATELY 12 FAMILY PROGRAMS, AND 5 ADULT PROGRAMS A YEAR. THE TRAILS ARE OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR FROM DAWN UNTIL DUSK. THE VISITOR CENTER IS OPEN FROM 8AM - 4PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 12PM - 4PM ON SATURDAY'S, AND 1PM - 4 PM ON SUNDAY'S.Expenses $136,640 · revenue $21,224
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 37-1389458
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2000
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C990)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $2,668,685
- Income (IRS master file)
- $311,574
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $294,254 | $169,705 | $2,668,685 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $257,889 | $152,907 | $2,466,910 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $204,991 | $129,082 | $2,286,316 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $191,949 | $233,683 | $2,080,646 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 37-1389458).
Questions about BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC
- What is the EIN of BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC is 37-1389458.
- Is BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2000.
- Are donations to BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names LYNN HIGGS.
- Who are the officers and directors of BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 17 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $42,750 (KARAN GREUEL, CO-DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does BALLARD FAMILY NATURE CENTER INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $294,254, expenses of $169,705 and total assets of $2,668,685 at year end.
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