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Wisconsin County Forests Association Inc

EIN 23-7447107 · Merrill, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE LEADERSHIP UNITING THE INTERESTS OF THE WISCONSIN'S COUNTY FOREST PROGRAM WHILE ENSURING LONG-TERM FOREST HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY.

Income
$330,937
Spending
$321,262
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
15 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
3
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$109,590, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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. $192,935 spent. ESTABLISHED IN 1968, THE WISCONSIN COUNTY FORESTS ASSOCIATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS MADE UP OF THE 30 COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN WITH PUBLIC LANDS ENROLLED IN WI 28.11, WHO COLLECTIVELY ARE THE LARGEST PUBLIC LANDOWNER IN THE STATE WITH OVER 2.4 MILLION ACRES. WISCONSIN COUNTY FORESTS ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP UNITING THE INTERESTS OF WISCONSIN'S COUNTY FORESTS WHILE ENSURING LONG-TERM FOREST HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE ASSOCIATION HAS 5 GUIDING PRINCIPLES SET FORTH IN THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN: 1) DEVELOP AND EXPAND CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STATE LEGISLATORS, 2) COLLABORATE WITH FOREST INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO PROMOTE MARKETS, 3) USE KNOWLEDGE BASE TO EDUCATE, 4) GROW THE NUMBER OF PEER ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIPS AND IDEA SHARING AND 5) NETWORK AND SHARE IDEAS. THE WISCONSIN COUNTY FORESTS ASSOCIATION ACTS AS A COLLABORATIVE PLATFORM FOR ITS 30 MEMBERS TO DISCUSS ISSUES, POLICY AND PROCEDURES. ON AVERAGE, THE ASSOCIATION FACILITATES MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCE CALLS +/- 20 DAYS PER YEAR OFFERING CONTINUING EDUCATION, NETWORKING, PROBLEM SOLVING AS WELL AS FOR INFORMATIONAL UPDATES FROM VALUED PARTNERS SUCH AS THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THE US FOREST SERVICE, THE GREAT LAKES TIMBER PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
  2. $28,297 spent. SINCE 2004, 27 OF WISCONSIN'S COUNTY FORESTS HAVE BEEN THIRD PARTY CERTIFIED UNDER THE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE (SFI), AND/OR THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC). SFI AND FSC ARE TWO OF THE MOST WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOREST CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS IN NORTH AMERICA. THE WISCONSIN COUNTY FORESTS ASSOCIATION PROVIDES A SUPPORT NETWORK AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO ASSIST CERTIFIED COUNTIES IN ACCOMPLISHING THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY FOREST CERTIFICATION STANDARDS.
  3. $36,014 spent. THE WISCONSIN COUNTY FORESTS ASSOCIATION IS A CHAMPION AND ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNTY FOREST SYSTEM AND FOR ACTIVE, SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN WISCONSIN. WITH THE HELP OF A CONTRACT LOBBYIST, ASSOCIATION STAFF MEET WITH STATE LEGISLATORS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO DISCUSS ISSUES AND BUDGET PRIORITIES. PART OF THE ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS ALSO EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MEMBERSHIP WORK IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND IN THE FIELD, CREATING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WELL AS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO REGULARLY PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 December 2024.

    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.