Nonprofit · EIN 41-1909408
BOLDER OPTIONS
Tax-exempt · MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55404
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $3,168,823 | $1,852,054 | $1,316,769 | $3,331,902 | $717,200 | $2,614,702 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,950,239 | $1,670,781 | $279,458 | $2,005,914 | $726,033 | $1,279,881 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,779,023 | $1,693,622 | $85,401 | $1,791,985 | $807,360 | $984,625 |
| December 31, 2021 | 990 | $1,542,098 | $1,375,701 | $166,397 | $1,866,932 | $796,463 | $1,070,469 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,963,946
- of which government grants
- $426,723
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $49,943
- Net rental income
- $28,475
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $5,743
- Net income from fundraising events
- $13,755
- Other revenue
- $154,934
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $7,500
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $192,046
- Other salaries and wages
- $899,956
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,236,678
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $86,349
- Occupancy
- $83,019
- Travel
- $3,254
- Depreciation
- $70,252
- Program services (functional)
- $1,356,529
- Management and general (functional)
- $262,209
- Fundraising (functional)
- $233,316
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,005,914
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,331,902
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $717,200
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,614,702
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,321,420
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,197,118
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $417,584
- Gross receipts
- $4,316,124
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 320
- Year formed
- 1998
- State of legal domicile
- MN
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 | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darrell Thompson | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $180,155 | $11,891 |
| April Riordan | Chief Operating Officer Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,750 | $4,252 |
| Brian Alday | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John Hoffman | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Barlow | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kellie Hand | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cynthia Fraction | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ezell Jones | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rodney Young | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Steve Mayle | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Marcus Sherels | Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John McCormick | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jasmyn Martin | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ben Bache-Wiig | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ukee Dozier | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
8 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Wolgemuth | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Karen Prest | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Melanee Meegan | Marketing Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Jacob Murray | Program Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Brad Becker | Treasurer/Finance Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Dave Jones | Development Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Keith Nelsen | Governance Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Bill Gaumond | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 23 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darrell Thompson | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $156,356 | $4,677 |
| April Riordan | Chief Operating Officer Highest-paid employee | 40 | $123,605 | $3,708 |
| Brian Alday | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John Hoffman | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Barlow | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert Wadsworth | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kellie Hand | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cynthia Fraction | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ezell Jones | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rodney Young | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Maggie Romens | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Steve Mayle | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Marcus Sherels | Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Smith | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John McCormick | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Karen Prest | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jasmyn Martin | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Melanee Meegan | Marketing Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jacob Murray | Program Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brad Becker | Treasurer/Finance Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Bill Gaumond | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Dave Jones | Development Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Keith Nelsen | Governance Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 21 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darrell Thompson | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $143,905 |
| Bryan Alday | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| John Hoffman | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jorge Lomeli | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bob Wadsworth | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kellie Hand | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Ray Hitchcock | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Crawford Jordan | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Rodney Young | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Maggie Romens | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Steve Mayle | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Marcus Sherels | Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Michael Smith | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| John McCormick | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Melanee Meegan | Marketing Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Jacob Murray | Program Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Brad Becker | Treasurer/Finance Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Bill Gaumond | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Lou Close | Board Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Dave Jones | Development Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Keith Nelsen | Governance Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2021: 20 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARRELL THOMPSON | PRESIDENT Officer | 40 | $160,829 |
| JORGE LOMELI | PROGRAM CHAI Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JOHN MCCORMICK | CHAIR & TREA Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| JESSICA ROE | HUMAN CAPITA Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BILL GAUMOND | FINANCE CHAI Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KELLIE HAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LOU CLOSE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RAY HAWES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RAY HITCHCOCK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CRAWFORD JORDAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHANDLER MCCOY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RODNEY YOUNG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DAVE JONES | DEVELOPMENT Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BRAD BECKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MAGGIE ROMENS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE MAYLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KEITH NELSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MARCUS SHERELS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JASON J SPRENGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2100 STEVENS AVE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55404-2533
- In care of
- % BARBARA LEININGER
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Darrell Thompson, 2100 Stevens Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404
- Signed the 990
- Darrell Thompson, President & CEO
- Phone
- (612) 379-2653
- Website
- www.bolderoptions.org
- Return prepared by
- BWK Rogers PC
Mission
Bolder Options prepares youth to succeed in all of life's races.
Program accomplishments
- Bolder Options is a Minnesota-based youth mentoring organization serving youth ages 10-14 in the Twin Cities and Rochester communities through one-to-one, community-based mentoring relationships. The organization's core mentoring program pairs each youth participant with a trained adult volunteer mentor for a one-year commitment focused on relationship building, physical wellness, social-emotional development, and positive youth development.Mentor-mentee pairs meet weekly for 2-4 hours and participate in structured activities and monthly group events designed to promote healthy lifestyles, goal setting, leadership development, and community engagement. Physical activity and wellness remain foundational components of the mentoring model, with youth and mentors participating together in active recreational opportunities, outdoor experiences, and personal wellness goal setting.Following completion of the first-year mentoring program, youth may continue participating in Bolder Options' alumni programming, which provides ongoing support through high school and early adulthood. Alumni programming includes leadership development, career and college exploration, workforce readiness, financial literacy, outdoor leadership experiences, internships, scholarships, and wellness-focused programming.During 2025, Bolder Options supported 86 mentor-mentee pairs across its Twin Cities and Rochester programs and maintained an 87% graduation success rate. The organization also provided extensive alumni and family engagement opportunities through mentoring, wellness, leadership, and community-based programming, with more than 1,850 participant engagements recorded during the year.During 2025, the organization continued strengthening its wellness-centered strategic framework through integration of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness model across mentoring and alumni programming. Bolder Options maintained a focus on physical, emotional, and social wellness while expanding mental health and wellness support for youth, caregivers, mentors, and staff.Program enhancements during 2025 included continued development of the I Believe and I Achieve initiatives focused on career exploration, workforce readiness, and post-secondary planning; expanded outdoor adventure and leadership opportunities; strengthened evaluation and data practices; and ongoing mentor recruitment efforts to address community demand for mentoring services.Bolder Options also continued investing in organizational and program capacity during 2025 through staff development, volunteer engagement, community partnerships, and facility improvements designed to support safe, welcoming, and relationship-centered programming environments.The organization remains committed to early intervention, long-term relationship-based mentoring, and wellness-centered youth development as core components of its mission to prepare youth to succeed in all of life's races.Expenses $1,356,529 · grants $7,500 · revenue $28,475
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
- 41-1909408
- 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
- 1998
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B80)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,331,902
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,316,124
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $3,168,823 | $1,852,054 | $3,331,902 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,950,239 | $1,670,781 | $2,005,914 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,779,023 | $1,693,622 | $1,791,985 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,375,579 | $1,543,394 | $1,702,903 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | $1,542,098 | $1,375,701 | $1,866,932 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | 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 41-1909408).
Questions about BOLDER OPTIONS
- What is the EIN of BOLDER OPTIONS?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BOLDER OPTIONS is 41-1909408.
- Is BOLDER OPTIONS tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1998.
- Are donations to BOLDER OPTIONS tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BOLDER OPTIONS 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 BOLDER OPTIONS 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 BOLDER OPTIONS 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 BOLDER OPTIONS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Darrell Thompson.
- Who are the officers and directors of BOLDER OPTIONS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 23 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $180,155 (Darrell Thompson, President & CEO).
- How much revenue does BOLDER OPTIONS have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,168,823, expenses of $1,852,054 and total assets of $3,331,902 at year end.
Other nonprofits in MINNEAPOLIS
- UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION EIN 41-6042488 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ECMC GROUP INC EIN 41-1991995 · last filed 990 for 2024
- SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC EIN 04-2296967 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY EIN 41-0694721 · last filed 990 for 2025
- READING & MATH INC EIN 47-2306902 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MINNESOTA TRANSITIONS CHARTERED SCHOOL EIN 41-1823173 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ECMC FOUNDATION EIN 41-1990628 · last filed 990 for 2024
- BRECK SCHOOL EIN 41-0693894 · last filed 990 for 2025