Nonprofit · EIN 46-1443733
CAN PLAY
Tax-exempt · WEST DES MOINES, IA 50266
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $461,243 | $511,812 | -$50,569 | $478,543 | $0 | $478,543 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $519,230 | $706,470 | -$187,240 | $676,325 | $23,471 | $652,854 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $671,468 | $538,082 | $133,386 | $841,828 | $13,773 | $828,055 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $185,945
- Program service revenue
- $144,109
- Investment income
- $22,031
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $5,000
- Net income from fundraising events
- $109,158
- Other revenue
- $109,158
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $86,934
- Other salaries and wages
- $200,561
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $323,291
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $45,975
- Occupancy
- $41,358
- Travel
- $1,723
- Depreciation
- $8,295
- Program services (functional)
- $370,121
- Management and general (functional)
- $96,223
- Fundraising (functional)
- $45,468
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $676,325
- Total assets, end of year
- $478,543
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $478,543
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $22,655
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $478,543
- Gross receipts
- $478,835
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 375
- Year formed
- 2012
- State of legal domicile
- IA
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF | CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $83,500 | $3,435 |
| CINDY LANDE LEFT 2025 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID MERRIMAN LEFT 2025 | DIRCETOR Trustee or director, Officer | – | $0 | $0 |
| ELLEN BENNET JOINED JAN 2025 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARCY BAKER JOINED JAN 2025 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| POLLY LONEMAN JOINED 2025 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN BUTZKE | PAST CHAIR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNIFER ELLIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA GREFE | CHAIR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMI HABERL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LEDER | TREASURER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LEAH LINT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY SYVERSON | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF | CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $79,000 | $3,255 |
| DYLAN DECLERCK LEFT DEC 2024 | CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $69,257 | $3,040 |
| BEN BUTZKE | CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SARAH CURRAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNIFER ELLIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA GREFE | VICE CHAIRPE Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMI HABERL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AUDREY KENNIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CINDY LANDE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LEDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LEAH LINT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID MERRIMAN | PAST CHAIRSP Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY SYVERSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF | CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $79,000 | $3,255 |
| DYLAN DECLERCK | CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $67,258 | $5,469 |
| AUDREY KENNIS JOINED JAN 23 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA GREFE JOINED JAN 23 | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| REBECCA STRAIT LEFT FEB 23 | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | – | $0 | $0 |
| SARAH C MCCARVILLE JOINED JAN 23 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN BUTZKE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNIFER ELLIS | PAST CHAIRPE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMI HABERL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CINDY BOYLE LANDE | PAST CHAIRPE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LEDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID MERRIMAN | CHAIRSPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY SYVERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 6500 GRAND AVE, WEST DES MOINES, IA 50266-5357
- In care of
- % MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF
- Mailing address (990-N for 2012)
- 5443 BEECHTREE DR, WEST DES MOINES IA 50266
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- LISA GREFE, 6500 GRAND AVE, WEST DES MOINES, IA 50266
- Principal officer (990-N for 2012)
- MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF, 5443 BEECHTREE DR, WEST DES MOINES IA 50266
- Signed the 990
- MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF, CO-FOUNDER
- Phone
- (515) 421-4021
- Website
- WWW.COURAGELEAGUESPORTS.COM
- Return prepared by
- FORGE FINANCIAL & MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
Mission
MISSION: CAN PLAY BRINGS ADAPTED AND NO COST RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS TO OUR COMMUNITIES BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO PLAY.
Program accomplishments
- CAN PLAY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAY TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR ADAPTED AND NO-COST PROGRAMMING. OUR PROGRAMS ARE BUILT WITH A GOAL OF SHOWING OUR PARTICIPANTS, THEIR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD THAT NO MATTER YOUR LIMITATIONS, EVERYBODY CAN PLAY.Expenses $370,121 · revenue $144,109
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
- 46-1443733
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2013
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Recreation and sports (N60)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $478,543
- Income (IRS master file)
- $478,835
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $461,243 | $511,812 | $478,543 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $519,230 | $706,470 | $676,325 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $671,468 | $538,082 | $841,828 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $655,012 | $504,552 | $695,534 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2012 Officer: MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF | December 31, 2012 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 46-1443733).
Questions about CAN PLAY
- What is the EIN of CAN PLAY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of CAN PLAY is 46-1443733.
- Is CAN PLAY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2013.
- Are donations to CAN PLAY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does CAN PLAY 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 CAN PLAY 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 CAN PLAY 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 CAN PLAY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names LISA GREFE.
- Who are the officers and directors of CAN PLAY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 13 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $83,500 (MELISSA CLARKE-WHARFF, CO-FOUNDER).
- How much revenue does CAN PLAY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $461,243, expenses of $511,812 and total assets of $478,543 at year end.
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