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Wisconsin Lutheran College

EIN 23-7179639 · Milwaukee, WI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O RESPONSE.

Income
$56.3 million
Spending
$55.4 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
833
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$273,744, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 37 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $33.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT: WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE OFFERS NATIONALLY RANKED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN A CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SMALL CLASSES AND RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING FROM PROFESSORS. WLC DOES NOT USE TEACHING ASSISTANTS. THE COLLEGE PREPARES NEARLY 1,100 TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS TO BE CHRISTIAN SERVANT LEADERS IN THEIR CHOSEN ACADEMIC FIELDS. TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE TO MAJOR OR MINOR IN VARIOUS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BUSINESS, NURSING, EDUCATION, SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE, AND BIOLOGY. WLC ALSO OFFERS 11 PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ATHLETIC TRAINING, CHIROPRACTIC, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, LAW, OPTOMETRY, MEDICINE, PHARMACY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, VETERINARY, ENGINEERING, AND DENTAL. THE COLLEGE HAS FORGED PARTNERSHIPS WITH RENOWNED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE DUAL-DEGREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. DUAL-DEGREE AFFILIATIONS ALLOW STUDENTS TO EARN TWO DEGREES: AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM WLC AND A GRADUATE DEGREE FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. MANY PROGRAMS OFFER STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO CONDENSE THEIR TIME IN SCHOOL (OFTEN A YEAR OR MORE), SAVING THEM MONEY ON TUITION COSTS AND ALLOWING THEM TO ENTER THE WORKPLACE SOONER. THE DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAMS AT WLC INCLUDE ATHLETIC TRAINING, CHIROPRACTIC CARE, DENTISTRY, ENGINEERING, EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY, LAW, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, OPTOMETRY, OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, PHARMACY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, PODIATRY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND RESPIRATORY CARE.
  2. $16.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES AND STUDENT SERVICES: THROUGH THE OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE, WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE OFFERED GUIDANCE, SUPPORT, ACTIVITIES, AND CAMPUS HOUSING TO 626 STUDENTS WHO LIVED IN 44 COLLEGE-OWNED BUILDINGS IN 2024-2025. EXTERNAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CAMP ATTENDEES ALSO UTILIZED CAMPUS HOUSING DURING THE SUMMER. THE COLLEGE MANAGES DINING FACILITIES FOR ITS RESIDENT STUDENTS, COMMUTERS, FACULTY, STAFF, GUESTS, AND OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT HOLD EVENTS AND CONFERENCES AT THE COLLEGE.
  3. $432,240 spent. PUBLIC SERVICE AND INSTITUTIONAL: WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE SERVES ITS COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. STUDENTS PERFORM SERVICE PROJECTS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH LIBERAL ARTS SEMINAR COURSES, THE OFFICE OF CAMPUS MINISTRY, THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP, NEW FRIENDS, AND OTHER CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.