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Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St Croix & Namekagon

EIN 26-3025933 · Osceola, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WILD RIVERS CONSERVANCY OF THE ST. CROIX & NAMEKAGON IS TO INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP TO FOREVER ENSURE THE RARE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE ST. CROIX AND NAMEKAGON RIVERWAY. THE CONSERVANCY OF THE ST. CROIX AND NAMEKAGON WORKS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED TO PROTECT THE NATIONAL PARK THAT FLOWS THROUGH ITS HEART. WE ARE THE OFFICIAL NON-PROFIT PARTNER FOR THE ST. CROIX NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAY.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
24
Volunteers
261
Highest pay
$121,725, executive di

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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.

  • 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 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. $866,588 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT: OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES INCLUSIVE, ENRICHING, AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. WE FOCUS ON RIVER SYSTEMS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PROVIDE ACCESS TO OUTDOOR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES AND ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEWARDS TO CONSERVE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
  2. $258,791 spent. LAND AND WATER: OUR LAND AND WATER PROGRAM PROTECTS, IMPROVES, AND RESTORES IMPORTANT NATURAL AND SCENIC AREAS IN THE RIVERWAY AND THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. THE ORGANIZATION LEVERAGES RESOURCES AND BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE THAT INVESTMENTS IN CLIMATE RESILIENCY, FOREST MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY, HABITAT AND RECREATIONAL LAND IMPROVEMENT ARE STRATEGICALLY TARGETED AND COORDINATED TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM RESULTS.
  3. $170,208 spent. INVASIVE SPECIES: THE INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND CONTROLS TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS INVASIVE SPECIES THREATS IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER BASIN INCLUDING PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE, PHRAGMITES, EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL, ZEBRA MUSSELS, INVASIVE CARP AND MANY OTHER SPECIES.

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 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? 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 December 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 December 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 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.