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Polish Heritage Alliance Inc

EIN 39-1408393 · Franklin, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE POLISH HERITAGE AND CULTURE AS EMBODIED IN TRADITIONS, HISTORY, LANGUAGE, CURRENT AFFAIRS, AND THE ARTS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
21
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$130,850, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 166% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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, 2024, 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. $542,525 spent. POLISH FEST IS A THREE-DAY CELEBRATION OF POLISH HERITAGE, MUSIC, AND FOOD. HELD ANNUALLY AT MILWAUKEE'S HENRY C. MAIER FESTIVAL PARK, POLISH FEST PRESENTS A VARIETY OF ENTERTAINMENT. THIS INCLUDES POLISH DANCE GROUPS, TRADITIONAL MUSICIANS, POLKA BANDS, AND CONTEMPORARY GROUPS. THE CULTURAL VILLAGE OFFERS FOLK ART DEMOS, CULTURAL/HISTORICAL DISPLAYS, AND GENEAOLOGY INFORMATION. DINING OPTIONS FEATURE POLISH FOOD AND BEVERAGES. IMPORTED POLISH GOODS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN THE MARKETPLACE AREA.
  2. $57,214 spent. THE POLISH CENTER OF WISCONSIN PRESENTS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS SHOWCASING POLISH HERITAGE AND CULTURE. THIS INCLUDES ART EXHIBITS, MUSIC PERFORMANCES, LECTURES, HISTORICAL EXHIBITS, POLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES, FOLK ART WORKSHOPS, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, AND MORE. THE POLISH CENTER SERVES AS A LOCAL CLEARING HOUSE FOR POLISH RELATED INFORMATION. THE POLANKI LIBRARY AT THE CENTER MAINTAINS A COLLECTION OF BOOKS, AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA, AND REFERENCE MATERIALS PERTAINING TO THE POLISH HERITAGE, GENEAOLOGY, AND CULTURE.
  3. $93,797 spent. THE POLISH CENTER OF WISCONSIN OPERATES A BANQUET HALL THAT HOSTS A VARIETY OF EVENTS SUCH AS WEDDINGS, PARTIES AND BUSINESS MEETINGS FOR BOTH MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 1983.

    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.

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