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PAUL BUNYAN RURAL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE

EIN 41-0745441 BEMIDJI, MN

Largest nonprofits in Minnesota

Revenue 2024
$77,772,539
Expenses 2024
$76,627,300

As filed

Subsection
12
Classification
3000
Street
1831 ANNE ST NW

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES TO COOPERATIVE MEMBERS THAT IMPROVES THEIR LIVES.

  • PROVISION OF TELEPHONE, INTERNET, AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICES TO COOPERATIVE MEMBERS LIVING AND WORKING IN RURAL MINNESOTA. PAUL BUNYAN CONTINUES TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES TO RURAL AREAS THAT ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.

As filed on the 2024 return.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Gary Johnson

    CEO & GM

    Total calculated
    $817,770
    From this org
    $454,434
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $363,336
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $447,592
    Bonus
    $6,842
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $334,404
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,932
    Filer's total
    $817,770
  • Chad Bullock

    ASST. CEO

    Total calculated
    $349,746
    From this org
    $272,822
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $76,924
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $271,597
    Bonus
    $1,225
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $51,568
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,356
    Filer's total
    $349,746
  • Dave Schultz

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (JAN - NOV)

    Total calculated
    $515,615
    From this org
    $326,787
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $188,828
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $320,248
    Bonus
    $6,539
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $166,817
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,011
    Filer's total
    $515,615
  • Craig Boyer

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (DEC)

    Total calculated
    $83,243
    From this org
    $76,683
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,560
    Hours/week
    40
  • Steve Howard

    INFO, TECH & DEVELOPMENT M

    Total calculated
    $295,752
    From this org
    $226,838
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $68,914
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,549
    Bonus
    $6,289
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $43,068
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,846
    Filer's total
    $295,752
  • Robert St Clair

    CHIEF NETWORK OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $286,228
    From this org
    $219,402
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $66,826
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $213,113
    Bonus
    $6,289
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $41,634
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,192
    Filer's total
    $286,228
  • Christie Turn

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $276,245
    From this org
    $211,044
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $65,201
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $204,755
    Bonus
    $6,289
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $40,101
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,100
    Filer's total
    $276,245
  • Leo Anderson

    CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $263,755
    From this org
    $212,835
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,920
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $206,546
    Bonus
    $6,289
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $40,290
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,630
    Filer's total
    $263,755
  • Randy Frisk

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $42,575
    From this org
    $42,575
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • James Sutton

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $46,801
    From this org
    $46,801
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Tim Hins

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $48,149
    From this org
    $48,149
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bruce Campbell

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $39,908
    From this org
    $39,908
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Tracy Mistic-Schaar

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $42,009
    From this org
    $42,009
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Glenda Martin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $24,174
    From this org
    $24,174
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Brian Nicklason

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $34,093
    From this org
    $34,093
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lisa Geerdes

    NETWORK TECHNOLOGY MANAGER

    Total calculated
    $176,408
    From this org
    $128,056
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,352
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $127,556
    Bonus
    $500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $24,429
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,923
    Filer's total
    $176,408
  • Terri Crews

    ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR

    Total calculated
    $162,903
    From this org
    $121,802
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,101
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $116,284
    Bonus
    $5,518
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $23,196
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,905
    Filer's total
    $162,903
  • Ryan Otting

    NETWORK OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Total calculated
    $159,281
    From this org
    $118,963
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,318
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $113,445
    Bonus
    $5,518
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,630
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,688
    Filer's total
    $159,281
  • Grant Hikok

    DATA SERVICE REP - VIDEO

    Total calculated
    $146,482
    From this org
    $115,226
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,256
    Hours/week
    40
  • Crystal Mattfield

    IT SUPERVISOR

    Total calculated
    $141,665
    From this org
    $116,868
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,797
    Hours/week
    40
  • Gary Ecklund

    PAST BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $14,859
    From this org
    $14,859
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $14,859
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $14,859

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $77,772,539
    Expenses
    $76,627,300
    Contributions
    $0
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $77,599,527
    Expenses
    $76,689,624
    Contributions
    $0
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $75,862,439
    Expenses
    $75,761,663
    Contributions
    $0
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $74,199,172
    Expenses
    $72,704,100
    Assets (EOY)
    $167,591,032
  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $72,224,060
    Expenses
    $70,908,348
    Assets (EOY)
    $156,844,472
  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $69,588,636
    Expenses
    $69,491,606
    Assets (EOY)
    $148,423,793
  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $61,234,321
    Expenses
    $61,142,978
    Assets (EOY)
    $139,818,282
  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $58,237,860
    Expenses
    $58,139,775
    Assets (EOY)
    $138,372,439
  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $57,979,903
    Expenses
    $57,898,099
    Assets (EOY)
    $133,147,502
  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $56,510,216
    Expenses
    $56,266,350
    Assets (EOY)
    $133,895,359
  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $58,371,585
    Expenses
    $58,293,824
    Assets (EOY)
    $135,649,469
  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $58,153,014
    Expenses
    $58,072,781
    Assets (EOY)
    $135,607,656
  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $53,176,403
    Assets (EOY)
    $135,689,145

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

No itemized grant names this organization as a recipient. Only grants over $5,000 are itemized, and only by filers of the full Form 990.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family

From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.

Disregarded entities on its 2024 return

  • NORTHERN COMMUNICATIONS LLC

    TELECOMMUNICATIONS · MN · income $100,356 · assets $433,515

Related partnerships on its 2024 return

  • PINNACLE PUBLISHING LLC

    INVESTMENT · PUBLISHING · MN · 67.16% owned · share of income $62,747 · share of assets $5,625,566

  • COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT LLC

    INVESTMENT · CONTRACTING · MN · 50% owned · share of income $449,049 · share of assets $3,813,091

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Not present in the most recent drop.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.