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Friends of Schlitz-Audubon Center Inc

EIN 39-1231819 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER CONSERVES OUR LAND'S DIVERSE HABITATS ON LAKE MICHIGAN AND PROVIDES MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR ALL.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
93
Volunteers
2,255
Highest pay
$171,708, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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

    12 of 12 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 June 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. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: THE CENTER OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. WE SERVE OVER 30,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS ANNUALLY THROUGH ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE PROGRAMS RANGING FROM ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, SUMMER CAMPS, AND NATURE ART CLASSES TO OUR MASTER NATURALIST COURSE. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMMING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, YOUNG CANCER SURVIVORS, AND OLDER ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE CHALLENGES. IN ADDITION, WE OFFER THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RAPTOR EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE MIDWEST, WITH 16 RESIDENT BIRDS OF PREY WHO CANNOT BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD. OUR FEATHERED AMBASSADORS REACHED OVER 168,000 PEOPLE DURING THE YEAR.THE RAPTORS, ESPECIALLY OUR EAGLES, HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN SPORTING EVENTS SUCH AS BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL GAMES WHICH HAS REALLY INCREASED THE REACH.
  2. $830,964 spent. NATURE SCHOOL: THIS PROGRAM GIVES EARLY LEARNERS (BABIES TO AGE 6) ACCESS TO NATURE-BASED EXPERIENCES. OUR AWARD-WINNING NATURE PRESCHOOL, FOUNDED IN 2003, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION AND IS HOUSED IN THE CENTER'S GOLD LEED CERTIFIED BUILDING, OUR SCHOOL IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ACTIVE LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS PROVIDE THE NATURE LEARNING APPROACH TO STUDENTS FROM THE MOST ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED AREAS OF MILWAUKEE.
  3. $731,915 spent. LAND CONSERVATION: OUR 185 ACRES OF FOREST, WETLANDS, PRAIRIE, RAVINES, BLUFFS, AND SHORELINE ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR CONSERVATION ACTIVITY AND NATURE-BASED COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. THE LAND IS OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. GUIDED BY OUR COMPREHENSIVE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, OUR VISION IS TO CREATE A BIOLOGICALLY AND VISUALLY DIVERSE 21ST CENTURY LANDSCAPE ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS AMONG THE MOST ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT TRACTS OF LAND IN GREATER MILWAUKEE. IN 2025, WORK CONTINUED ON THE WEST MEADOWS TRAIL ENHANCEMENT PROJECT. THE PROJECT HAS 3 GOALS: TO MOVE TRAILS OUT OF WETLANDS, DISTANCE TRAILS FROM THE NOISE OF LAKE DRIVE, AND TO OFFER BETTER VIEWS OF THE WEST MEADOWS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 October 1977.

    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.