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Nonprofit · EIN 81-2770318

BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER

Also known as CAROLYN KINZEL SOLE MBR

Tax-exempt · EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344

Financials

$500K$462K2023$637K$497K2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$637,270$497,318$139,952$334,802$1,407$333,395
December 31, 2023990$500,054$462,351$37,703$196,605$3,162$193,443
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$637,269
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$1
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$9,752
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$58,000
Other salaries and wages
$122,687
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$196,554
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$3,586
Occupancy
$50,571
Program services (functional)
$455,790
Management and general (functional)
$24,924
Fundraising (functional)
$16,604

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$196,605
Total assets, end of year
$334,802
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,407
Net assets, end of year
$333,395
Net assets without donor restrictions
$333,395
Gross receipts
$637,270
Employees
5
Year formed
2016
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, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
CAROLYN KINZELPRESIDENT /
Trustee or director, Officer
40$58,000
LEAH BAILYBOARD CO CHA
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
JENNIFER ZACHARIASBOARD CO CHA
Trustee or director
2$0
MAT GELINEAUBOARD SECRET
Trustee or director
2$0
BARB FISHMANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
KEN ROHLFBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
JANET MCGEEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
JESSICA STEELEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
PATRICK DURKINBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 8 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
PEGGY HIRSCHUBERBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
CAROLYN KINZELPRESIDENT/TR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
PATRICK DURKINBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
BARB FISHMANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
MAT GELINEAUBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
GREG KINZELBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
JESSICA STEELEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
JENNIFER ZACHARIUSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
15764 VENTURE LN, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344-5729
Mailing address (990-N for 2018)
8925 AZTEC DRIVESUITE 1, EDEN PRAIRIE MN 553470000
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
CAROLYN KINZEL, 15764 VENTURE LANE, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344
Principal officer (990-N for 2018)
Carolyn Kinzel, 8925 AZTEC DRIVESUITE 1, EDEN PRAIRIE MN 553470000
Signed the 990
CAROLYN KINZEL, PRESIDENT / EXEC DIR
Phone
(952) 303-3873
Return prepared by
CUMMINGS KEEGAN & CO PLLP

Mission

BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER IS A MINNESOTA NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING ADULTS, YOUNG ADULTS, TEENAGERS AND CHILDREN WHO ARE GRIEVING THE DEATH OR TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS OF A BELOVED FAMILY MEMBER. ALTHOUGH WE ARE A GRIEF CENTER PROVIDING FREE SERVICES AND RESOURCES, WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT AT OUR CORE. WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF PROFESSIONALS AND FAMILIES BOUND TOGETHER BY OUR OWN GRIEF EXPERIENCES.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • BRIGHTER DAYS FAMILY GRIEF CENTER IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING MINNESOTA GRIEVING CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND ENTIRE FAMILIES WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS. RECOGNIZED BY THE TWIN CITIES GRIEF COMMUNITY AS THE PREMIER NON-PROFIT FAMILY GRIEF CENTER SINCE 2017, BRIGHTER DAYS HAS BEEN A RESOURCE TO MORE THAN 13,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS AS THEY FACE THE CHALLENGES OF A FAMILY MEMBERS TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS OR DEATH. ALONG WITH DISTRIBUTING MORE THAN 100,000 IN FINANCIAL AID, BRIGHTER DAYS FREE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED FAMILIES FIND HOPEFUL WAYS TO PROCESS THEIR GRIEF WHILE HONORING THEIR LOVED ONE. BY FAR, THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT IS SENDING A PROCLAMATION TO OUR GOVERNOR TO HAVE CHILDREN'S GRIEF AWARENESS DAY BECOME AN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED DATE IN MINNESOTA. EACH THIRD THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER, BRIGHTER DAYS WILL LEAD THE CHILDREN'S GRIEF AWARENESS DAY INITIATIVE BY SPEAKING TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ACKNOWLEDGING CHILDREN'S GRIEF. THIS DAY ILLUMINATES THE NEED FOR EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ABOUT A CAUSE THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND IGNORED, AND THE SIGNED PROCLAMATION IS DISPLAYED AT THE CENTER. 2024 WAS ANOTHER YEAR OF RECORD GROWTH FOR BRIGHTER DAYS. A SECOND LOCATION WAS OPENED IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA AND WE ACQUIRED ANOTHER YOUTH CAMP LOCATED IN BRAINERD, MINNESOTA. APPROXIMATELY 1200 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN FREE PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, WELLNESS WORKSHOPS, AND CAMP ERIN TWIN CITIES, WHERE THEY CONNECTED WITH OTHER FAMILIES, HONORED THEIR LOVED ONES, AND PROCESSED THEIR GRIEF. OUR MASTER LEVEL GRIEF COUNSELORS PROVIDED OVER 850 HOURS OF FREE COUNSELING SESSIONS AND SUPPORT GROUPS WITH CONTINUAL POSITIVE FEEDBACK OF THE GENUINE COMPASSION AND CARE THEY FELT WORKING WITH THEM. BRIGHTER DAYS HAS MANY GRIEF AND CAREGIVER-RELATED PARTNERS IN THE STATE AND HAS BECOME AN ANCHOR IN THE MINNESOTA GRIEF COMMUNITY. ASIDE FROM THEIR RENOWNED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS, A RESOUNDING DIFFERENCE IN THEIR MODEL OF CARE IS THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ADULT GRIEF. BRIGHTER DAYS PROVIDES DOZENS OF SUPPORT GROUPS AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS FOR ADULT SIBLING LOSS AND PARENT LOSS, RECOGNIZING THAT GRIEF HAS NO AGE LIMIT. BRIGHTER DAYS ALSO WORKS TIRELESSLY TO ADDRESS GAPS IN THE GRIEF COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO OVERLOOKED OR UNDERSERVED CAUSES AND COMMUNITIES. HIGH ON THE LIST ARE DEATHS RELATED TO ADDICTION AND SUICIDE AS WELL AS BUILDING GREATER SUPPORT FOR LGBTQ, BIPOC, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. ONE OF THE LARGER NEEDS IS SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING ANTICIPATORY GRIEF. AS A PARTNER TO MANY HOSPICES AND HOSPITALS, OUR VOLUME OF CALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY. WE HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED AND IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMMING FOR BOTH CAREGIVERS AND PATIENTS THAT WILL NOW BE AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR OUR PARTNERS. THIS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES FREE SUPPORT GROUPS AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, AND ADULTS WHO ARE FACING A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS OF THEIR OWN OR SOMEONE THEY LOVE.
    Expenses $409,390 · grants $9,752
  • Expenses $46,400

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
81-2770318
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
2016
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P62)
Assets (IRS master file)
$334,802
Income (IRS master file)
$637,270

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$637,270$497,318$334,802XML
990December 2023$500,054$462,351$196,605XML
990December 2022$378,115$368,011$192,305IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2019–––IRS
990-N for 2018
Officer: Carolyn Kinzel
December 31, 2018≤ $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 81-2770318).

Questions about BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER

What is the EIN of BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER?
The employer identification number (EIN) of BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER is 81-2770318.
Is BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2016.
Are donations to BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER 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 BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names CAROLYN KINZEL.
Who are the officers and directors of BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 9 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $58,000 (CAROLYN KINZEL, PRESIDENT /).
How much revenue does BRIGHTER DAYS GRIEF CENTER have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $637,270, expenses of $497,318 and total assets of $334,802 at year end.

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