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5 Lakes Institute Inc

EIN 26-0724304 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 85 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

5 LAKES INSTITUTE IS A CURATED NETWORK OF ENTREPRENEURS, RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS, INVESTORS, AND BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS THAT DRIVES AND AMPLIFIES DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE TECH-ENABLED GDP GROWTH IN THE MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES REGION.

Income
$26,471
Spending
$125,014
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
1
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$87,400, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 372% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 85 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    5 of 5

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 (1)
  1. $87,508 spent. SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDWEST RESEARCH UNIVERSITY NETWORK (MRUN)SIX VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THAT: FAACILITATED NEARLY 600 ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS BETWEEN REGIONAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS AND INVESTORS. ATTRACTED OVER 325 KEY PEOPLE FROM COMPANIES, VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS, UNIVERSITIES,AND GOVERNMENT TO LEARN FROM OUR PROGRAMMING. EDUCATED OUR COALITION MEMBERS ABOUT INNOVATION RESOURCES AT 11 ORGANIZATIONS FROM TEN DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR REGION. PRODUCED THREE NEWSLETTERS TO UPDATE/EDUCATE OUR COALITION ABOUT REGIONAL INNOVATION IN THE FOOD & AG TECH, ENERGY-INDUSTRIAL AND HUMAN HEALTH AREAS. SUPPORTED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS COLUMNS FOR THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL TO EDUCATE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ISSUES IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION. SUPPORTED SEASON 5 AND 5 OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS MIDWEST MOXIE PROGRAM (AVAILABLE AT WUWM AND PODCAST PLATFORMS), WHICH HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL FOUNDERS IN THE REGION AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS. DEVELOPED AND DEPLOYED EDUCATIONAL AND ECOSYSTEM-BUILDING INITIATIVES AROUND THE REGION'S STRENGTH IN FUSION ENERGY: FORMEED THE WISCONSIN FUSION ENERGY COALITION PARTNERED WITH FUSIONX TO HOLD A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE (150+ ATTENDEES) IN CHICAGO HELD GREAT LAKES FUSION ENERGY SUMMIT AND MIXER (NEARLY 200 ATTENDEES) IN MADISON, WI FORMED THE GREAT LAKES FUSION ENERGY ALLIANCE SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDWEST RESEARCH UNIVERSITY NETWORK (MRUN)SIX VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THAT: FAACILITATED NEARLY 600 ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS BETWEEN REGIONAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS AND INVESTORS. ATTRACTED OVER 325 KEY PEOPLE FROM COMPANIES, VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS, UNIVERSITIES,AND GOVERNMENT TO LEARN FROM OUR PROGRAMMING. EDUCATED OUR COALITION MEMBERS ABOUT INNOVATION RESOURCES AT 11 ORGANIZATIONS FROM TEN DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR REGION. PRODUCED THREE NEWSLETTERS TO UPDATE/EDUCATE OUR COALITION ABOUT REGIONAL INNOVATION IN THE FOOD & AG TECH, ENERGY-INDUSTRIAL AND HUMAN HEALTH AREAS. SUPPORTED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS COLUMNS FOR THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL TO EDUCATE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ISSUES IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION. SUPPORTED SEASON 5 AND 5 OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS MIDWEST MOXIE PROGRAM (AVAILABLE AT WUWM AND PODCAST PLATFORMS), WHICH HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL FOUNDERS IN THE REGION AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS. DEVELOPED AND DEPLOYED EDUCATIONAL AND ECOSYSTEM-BUILDING INITIATIVES AROUND THE REGION'S STRENGTH IN FUSION ENERGY: FORMEED THE WISCONSIN FUSION ENERGY COALITION PARTNERED WITH FUSIONX TO HOLD A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE (150+ ATTENDEES) IN CHICAGO HELD GREAT LAKES FUSION ENERGY SUMMIT AND MIXER (NEARLY 200 ATTENDEES) IN MADISON, WI FORMED THE GREAT LAKES FUSION ENERGY ALLIANCE

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2026.

    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 April 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.