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Girl Scouts of Wisconsin - Badgerland Council Inc

EIN 39-0806331 · Madison, 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

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 143 cents.

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

What it says it does

GIRL SCOUTING BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
23.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 64%
Employees
82
Volunteers
3,542
Highest pay
$132,100, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 143 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 September 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. $1.1 million spent. OUTDOORS: GIRL SCOUT OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE, GIRL-LED EXPERIENCES THAT INCLUDE CAMPING, HIKING, HIGH-ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP - ALL INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS. PROGRAMMING SPANS A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES, FROM LOCAL, TROOP-BASED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GARDENING AND CAMPFIRE CAMARADERIE TO HIGH-ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE RAFTING AND ROCK CLIMBING.THROUGH THESE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, THE BADGERLAND COUNCIL AIMS TO STRENGTHEN GIRLS' CONFIDENCE, DEEPEN THEIR CONNECTION TO NATURE, SUPPORT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING, AND CULTIVATE RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND SELF-DISCOVERY. IN 2025, MORE THAN 1,100 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNCIL'S SERVICE AREA.
  2. $1.1 million spent. ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE: THE GIRL SCOUT ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY, SALES, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THROUGH HANDS-ON PARTICIPATION, GIRLS LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP WHILE BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND GAINING REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE THAT SUPPORTS FUTURE CAREER READINESS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.BADGERLAND'S PRODUCT SALES PROGRAMS ALSO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR MEMBERS, TROOPS, AND THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE. IN 2025, MORE THAN 5,400 MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN PRODUCT SALES PROGRAMS, EARNING OVER $1.6 MILLION IN TROOP PROCEEDS AND REWARDS. THESE FUNDS DIRECTLY SUPPORT TROOP ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE-EMPOWERING GIRLS TO REINVEST THEIR EARNINGS INTO LEADERSHIP GROWTH AND SERVICE.
  3. $1.7 million spent. STEM/LIFE SKILLS: THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE WEAVES TOGETHER THE CORE PROGRAMMING PILLARS - OUTDOORS, ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCES, STEM, AND LIFE SKILLS - INTO A COHESIVE AND MEANINGFUL JOURNEY FOR YOUTH MEMBERS. THROUGH PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMMING THAT EVOLVES AS GIRLS GROW, THE BADGERLAND COUNCIL ENSURES THAT EVERY GIRL SCOUT HAS ACCESS TO ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PERSONAL GROWTH.STEM PROGRAMMING PLAYS A PARTICULARLY POWERFUL ROLE BY STRENGTHENING CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND TEAMWORK - SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS IN BOTH ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS. AT THE SAME TIME, A STRONG EMPHASIS ON LIFE SKILLS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EMPOWERS GIRLS TO BECOME CONFIDENT, WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS WHO NOT ONLY ACHIEVE PERSONAL SUCCESS BUT ALSO MAKE LASTING, POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 March 1960.

    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.