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Wisconsin Library Services

EIN 23-7222270 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDING SERVICES TO MEMBERS IN A FEE-FOR-SERVICE MODEL TO HELP ADVANCE LIBRARY SERVICES, PRIMARILY IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

Income
$12.6 million
Spending
$13.2 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$106,894, executive director

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: 54 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $11.5 million spent. CO-OP SERVICES: THE WILS COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SAVE MEMBERS TIME AND MONEY, ALONG WITH LEVERAGING THE BUYING POWER OF A STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP BASE. WILS NEGOTIATES PRICING FOR A VARIETY OF ONLINE RESOURCES AND OTHER PRODUCTS, MANAGES SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ONLINE RESOURCES, IDENTIFIES NEW PRODUCTS, AND CREATES AND MAINTAINS RELATIONSHIPS WITH VENDORS, ALL ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. CONSULTING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT: WILS PROVIDES ITS MEMBERS WITH A VARIETY OF CONSULTING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING PLANNING SERVICES, REPORTS AND DATA COLLECTION, BROKERING PROJECTS WITH EXPERTS IN THE LIBRARY FIELD, EVENTS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT. IN ADDITION, WILS ACTS AS PROJECT MANAGER FOR A NUMBER OF CONSORTIA INCLUDING THREE EBOOK CONSORTIA (THE WISCONSIN PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSORTIUM, THE HORTICULTURE LIBRARY CONSORTIUM, AND THE WISCONSIN SCHOOLS DIGITAL LIBRARY CONSORTIUM) AND THE WISPALS CONSORTIUM, WHICH PROVIDES LIBRARY CATALOG AND OTHER SERVICES TO TECHNICAL COLLEGE LIBRARIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.