Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast Inc

EIN 39-0892833 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GIRL SCOUTS OF WISCONSIN SOUTHEAST, A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT, IS THE PREEMINENT MEMBERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING ALL GIRLS DEVELOP THE CONFIDENCE, DETERMINATION, AND SKILLS NEEDED TO THRIVE IN TODAY'S WORLD. GIRL SCOUTING BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. GIRL SCOUTS BRING THEIR DREAMS TO LIFE AND WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD. GIRL SCOUTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES CAN BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY THEMSELVES AS THEY DISCOVER THEIR STRENGTHS AND RISE TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES. BACKED BY TRUSTED ADULT VOLUNTEERS, MENTORS, AND MILLIONS OF ALUMS, GIRL SCOUTS LEAD THE WAY AS THEY FIND THEIR VOICES AND MAKE CHANGES THAT AFFECT THE ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM. WITH PROGRAMS IN KENOSHA, MILWAUKEE, OZAUKEE, RACINE, WALWORTH, WASHINGTON, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES, GIRL SCOUTS OF WISCONSIN SOUTHEAST GIVES EVERY GIRL SCOUT IN OUR COUNCIL THE CHANCE TO REACH THEIR FULL LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
29.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 65%
Employees
164
Volunteers
6,037
Highest pay
$233,073, chief executive officer

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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. $1.8 million spent. MEMBERSHIP INVOLVES THE RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND RETENTION OF GIRL MEMBERS AND ADULT MEMBERS WHO DELIVER THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE (GSLE) TO GIRLS IN GRADES K5-12. THE GSLE ENGAGES GIRL SCOUTS IN DISCOVERING SELF, CONNECTING WITH OTHERS, AND TAKING ACTION TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. GIRL SCOUTS HELPS MEMBERS (1) DEVELOP THEIR FULL INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL; (2) RELATE TO OTHERS WITH INCREASING UNDERSTANDING, SKILL, AND RESPECT; (3) DEVELOP VALUES TO GUIDE THEIR ACTIONS AND PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR SOUND DECISION MAKING; AND (4) CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY THROUGH THEIR ABILITIES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND COOPERATION WITH OTHERS. THE LONG-TERM RESULT, OR THE LEADERSHIP DESTINATION, IS A GENERATION OF GIRLS WHO LEAD WITH COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER. BASED ON SELF-REPORTING OF RACE AND ETHNICITY, GIRLS OF COLOR MAKE UP 13% OF THE COUNCIL'S GIRL MEMBERSHIP WITH 23% WHO DID NOT REPORT RACE OR CHOSE NOT TO SHARE, AND 8% IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC. GIRLS AND ADULTS PARTICIPATING IN GIRL SCOUTS ARE SUPPORTED BY COUNCIL-PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERSHIP DUES, TRAINING FEES, AND MATERIALS. MEMBERSHIP TOTALS FOR 2025 (OCTOBER 1, 2024 SEPTEMBER 30, 2025) WERE 12,425 GIRLS AND 6,194 ADULTS. THE COUNCIL HAD A GIRL MEMBERSHIP RETENTION RATE OF 64.4%.
  2. $5.1 million spent. THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE (GSLE) PROVIDES PERSONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GIRLS IN GRADES K5-12, WITH DEFINED OUTCOMES DIFFERENTIATED BY GRADE LEVEL. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS AND PROMOTES FLEXIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED SPAN A WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS AND TOPICS THAT SUPPORT AND ENRICH EACH GIRL SCOUT'S EXPERIENCE, E.G., STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH), OUTDOOR CAMPS, TRAVEL, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP, ARTS AND CULTURE, HEALTHY LIVING, ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS, LIFE SKILLS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND CAREER EXPLORATION. THESE EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRL SCOUTS FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITIES TO MEET, CONNECT, AND WORK TOGETHER. STAFF, TOOLS, RESOURCE MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AWARDS, AND VENUES, INCLUDING COUNCIL-OWNED PROGRAM PROPERTIES, ARE AVAILABLE AND INCLUDED IN THE GSLE PROGRAM DELIVERY. IN 2025, 3,443 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN IMMERSIVE CAMP EXPERIENCES AND 7,511 GIRLS ATTENDED COUNCIL-LED EVENTS. 324 GIRLS EARNED GIRL SCOUT GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE AWARDS, PROVIDING MORE THAN 9,690 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED FOR PROGRAM FEES, CAMPING FEES, AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. GSLE REVENUES INCLUDE INCOME FROM PROGRAM-RELATED PRODUCTS AND SUPPLIES SALES, PROGRAM FEES, AND RENTALS.
  3. $572,656 spent. THE STAFF-LED COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM IS DELIVERED TO COMMUNITIES IN LIMITED-INCOME AND/OR DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED AREAS IN MILWAUKEE, RACINE, AND KENOSHA (USING WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DATA TO DETERMINE SCHOOLS WITH GREATEST NEED). THESE COMMUNITIES ARE UNDERSERVED BY RESOURCES AND DO NOT OFTEN HAVE ACCESS TO SIMILAR PROGRAMS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE GIRLS ARE GIRLS OF COLOR, IN GRADES K5-8.STAFF-LED COMMUNITY OUTREACH UTILIZES SPECIALLY TRAINED GIRL SCOUT STAFF TO GUIDE AND INSPIRE GIRLS TO EXPLORE NEW THINGS AND GAIN PRACTICAL SKILLS. OUR STAFF GOES TO LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS, TO PROVIDE SPECIALLY CURATED AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT PROGRAMMING TO GIRLS. GSWISE'S FOUR PILLARS STEM, LIFE SKILLS, OUTDOORS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED.THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES MANY DIFFERENT PATHWAYS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE GSLE CURRICULUM THAT OCCURS YEAR-ROUND AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BILINGUAL MATERIALS, AND CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM. GIRLS CAN PARTICIPATE IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME STAFF-LED GIRL SCOUT TROOPS, SERIES PROGRAMS, SUMMER WORKSHOPS, AND CAMP EXPERIENCES. BILINGUAL STAFF PROVIDE SELECT PROGRAMMING IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.IN 2025, THE GIRL SCOUT MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE STAFF-LED COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM INCREASED TO 2,095 GIRLS, FROM 2,017 IN 2024. WHILE THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN VARIOUS WAYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNCIL, EXPENSES REPORTED HERE REFLECT ONLY DIRECT PROGRAM COSTS.

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 December 1965.

    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.