Nonprofit · EIN 47-2706626
ELY FOLK SCHOOL
Tax-exempt · ELY, MN 55731
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $306,322 | $277,674 | $28,648 | $232,486 | $19,384 | $213,102 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $266,346 | $233,671 | $32,675 | $189,167 | $20,399 | $168,768 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $267,705 | $219,052 | $48,653 | $158,087 | $21,683 | $136,404 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $183,643
- Program service revenue
- $104,803
- Investment income
- $0
- Net income from gaming
- $1,847
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $16,029
- Other revenue
- $17,876
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $56,452
- Other salaries and wages
- $77,731
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $149,393
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $5,541
- Occupancy
- $22,243
- Depreciation
- $2,814
- Program services (functional)
- $180,224
- Management and general (functional)
- $80,768
- Fundraising (functional)
- $16,682
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $189,167
- Total assets, end of year
- $232,486
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $19,384
- Net assets, end of year
- $213,102
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $137,745
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $213,102
- Gross receipts
- $315,007
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 65
- Year formed
- 2015
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Soderstrom | Executive Director Key employee | 40 | $44,706 |
| Chris Clemens | Board Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Sue Remes | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Ozzie Reif | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Rick Anderson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Sarah Paro | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lacey Squier | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Jason Rabuck | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Rosa Oesterreich | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Steve Klar | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kelly Cramer | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Soderstrom | Executive Director Key employee | 40 | $55,800 |
| Lacey Squier | Chairperson Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Chris Clemens | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Johnnie Hyde | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Ozzie Reif | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Rick Anderson | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Sarah Paro | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Nick Dunnom | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Rosa Oesterreich | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Soderstrom | Program Director Key employee | 40 | $40,165 |
| Alexia Springer | Assistant Director Key employee | 30 | $17,890 |
| Brett Ross | Mercantile Key employee | 10 | $8,932 |
| Lacey Squier | Chairperson Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Chris Clemens | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Johnnie Hyde | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Ozzie Reif | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Rick Anderson | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Sarah Paro | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 209 E SHERIDAN ST, ELY, MN 55731-1451
- In care of
- % CHRIS CLEMENS
- Mailing address (990-N for 2015)
- 209 E Sheridan Street, Ely MN 55731
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Chris Clemens, 209 E Sheridan Street, Ely, MN 55731
- Principal officer (990-N for 2015)
- JOHN TANNER OTT, 209 E Sheridan Street, Ely MN 55731
- Signed the 990
- Chris Clemens, Treasurer
- Phone
- (218) 235-0138
Mission
Building community by providing learning experiences that celebrate the wilderness heritage art history culture and craft of the people of northern Minnesota.
Program accomplishments
- Ely Folk School classes offer intergenerational non-competitive learning for life opportunities to people of all backgrounds and abilities. Our organization holds firm to an early philosophical premise that education embrace heart mind and body. Our mission is to build community by providing learning experiences that celebrate the wilderness heritage art history culture and craft of the people of northern Minnesota. The Folk School movement is growing as is EFS with a desire to increase mutually beneficial connection between people and their places for a sense of belonging. EFS focuses most on arts programming with opportunities in ceramics; fiber arts; folk arts; humanities; metalworking; Northwoods crafting; nourishment; and music and writing all designed around EFS values of freedom intergenerational stewardship joy resilience wellness and connection. EFS fosters a culture of inclusion to serve as a welcoming and safe space for folks of all opinions beliefs cultures races gender expressions sexual orientations ages and abilities. EFS serves a broad rural community with 400 programs annually serving 1,700 students from across the state learning from 75 individual instructors. 61% of students register with an address from the Ely area and 87% of students reside in Minnesota. Students rediscover a love of learning and art and build strong relationships with others. These results are reinforced by responses to our evaluation surveys as well as by students returning to take more classes. Across our class evaluation surveys in 2025 less than 5% of students reported feeling somewhat satisfied or unsatisfied with the experience and outcomes of their class. One reported The instructor had the gift to instill confidence in our abilities during the making of the basket. She was very encouraging and she happily took as much time as we needed to demonstrate all the particular parts during the basket making process. It was a satisfying joyful feeling to make a basket. I found basket making to be a bit challenging but with the instructors encouragement she provided the resilience needed to persevere through the process. The Ely Folk School hosts classes across nine different program areas - Fiber Arts; Folk Arts; Humanities; Metalworking; Music Voice & Page; Northwoods Skills & Crafting; Nourishment; and Youth & Family. Nourishment Folk Arts and Northwoods Skills & Crafting are our biggest program areas offering classes such as Slovenian Walnut Potica Norwegian Rosemaling and Craft Your Own Wooden Paddle.Expenses $144,081 · revenue $82,792
- The Ely Folk School Mercantile promotes area artists by offering a downtown store front with consignment and wholesale options. The Ely Folk School Mercantile celebrates the rich history and inspiration found in the Northwoods by uplifting local teaching artists. Artwork is displayed attractively with information about how visitors can learn to make something similar themselves through classes with the Ely Folk School. Also found in the Mercantile are tools and resources for beginning or continuing a craft journey and education. The Mercantile seeks to promote and preserve exploration of craft as an essential and accessible piece of life.Expenses $16,714 · revenue $16,029
- Ely Folk School Community Events bring people together. Community Events often occur in conjunction with holidays as the culmination of a class series or in partnership with other active Ely area organizations. Our annual Thanksgiving Potluck seats over 100 people annually emphasizing the importance of sharing recognition and food in a healthy community. Our weekly Makers Morning offers coffee company and cookies as area artists bring their project to life at the Ely Folk School while receiving feedback and critique and developing new class ideas for the Ely Folk School. These events encourage well-being and connection while furthering the EFS mission of building community.Expenses $5,714 · revenue $4,483
- The Ely Folk School Ceramics Studio offers monthly memberships to a full-service ceramics studio. It was created to provide the space and equipment to allow clay artists and potters of all levels to explore their creativity and work in a supportive environment. Members receive 24 7 access to the space as well as monthly Studio Manager Office Hours. Many studio members have had success starting small businesses and selling their pottery. Our local studio managers manage the firing of the kiln and cleanliness safety of the space.Expenses $13,715 · revenue $12,954
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
- 47-2706626
- 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
- 2015
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $232,486
- Income (IRS master file)
- $315,007
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $306,322 | $277,674 | $232,486 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $266,346 | $233,671 | $189,167 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $267,705 | $219,052 | $158,087 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2017 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2015 Officer: JOHN TANNER OTT | December 31, 2015 | ≤ $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 47-2706626).
Questions about ELY FOLK SCHOOL
- What is the EIN of ELY FOLK SCHOOL?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ELY FOLK SCHOOL is 47-2706626.
- Is ELY FOLK SCHOOL tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
- Are donations to ELY FOLK SCHOOL tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ELY FOLK SCHOOL 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 ELY FOLK SCHOOL 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 ELY FOLK SCHOOL 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 ELY FOLK SCHOOL?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Chris Clemens.
- Who are the officers and directors of ELY FOLK SCHOOL?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $44,706 (Lucy Soderstrom, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does ELY FOLK SCHOOL have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $306,322, expenses of $277,674 and total assets of $232,486 at year end.
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- ELYS HISTORIC STATE THEATER EIN 81-1555494 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NORTHERN LAKES ARTS ASSOCIATION EIN 36-3485240 · last filed 990 for 2024
- TOFTE LAKE CENTER EIN 13-4359561 · last filed 990 for 2024
- DOROTHY MOLTER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION EIN 41-1698884 · last filed 990 for 2024
- LISTENING POINT FOUNDATION INC EIN 39-1929276 · last filed 990 for 2025
- BOTTLE CAP VOLUNTEER PRODUCTIONS EIN 81-4591481 · last filed 990 for 2023
- MINNESOTA CANOE MUSEUM EIN 26-3985033 · last filed 990-N for 2025
All nonprofits in ELY · Minnesota · Arts, culture and humanities