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Aldo Leopold Foundation Inc

EIN 39-1423225 · Baraboo, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ALDO LEOPOLD FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER A LAND ETHIC THROUGH THE LEGACY OF ALDO LEOPOLD.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
45
Volunteers
95
Highest pay
$109,378, executive director & president

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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 67% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

    14 of 14 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 (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. STEWARDSHIP, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING RELATED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES:STEWARDSHIP - THE FOUNDATION OWNS AND MANAGES THE ORIGINAL ALDO LEOPOLD SHACK AND 600 SURROUNDING ACRES AND COORDINATES THE CONSERVATION PLANNING AND MONITORING ACROSS THE 12,000 ACRE LEOPOLD-PINE ISLAND IMPORTANT BIRD AREA. LAND STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVES DEMONSTRATE ACTIVITIES AND PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE ECOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL USE OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LAND AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOTAL LAND COMMUNITY.EDUCATION - AS THE PRIMARY ADVOCATE AND INTERPRETER OF THE LEOPOLD LEGACY, THE FOUNDATION SERVES NEARLY 10,000 VISITORS ON-SITE EACH YEAR, IN ADDITION TO MANY THOUSANDS MORE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, NEWSLETTER, AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING. AS THE PRIMARY ADVOCATE AND INTERPRETER OF THE LEOPOLD LEGACY, THE FOUNDATION ALSO SERVES AS THE EXECUTOR OF ALDO LEOPOLD'S LITERARY ESTATE, ENCOURAGES SCHOLARSHIP ON ALDO LEOPOLD, AND SERVES AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ALDO LEOPOLD, HIS WORK, AND HIS IDEAS.ALDO LEOPOLD LEGACY CENTER - THE FOUNDATION'S HEADQUARTERS ARE LOCATED IN THE LEOPOLD LEGACY CENTER, LOCATED LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM THE LEOPOLD SHACK. OPENED IN 2007, THE LEOPOLD LEGACY CENTER WAS BUILT USING PINES THE LEOPOLD FAMILY PLANTED IN THE 1930S AND 1940S AND IMPLEMENTS A WIDE SPECTRUM OF GREEN BUILDING TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES.

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 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 September 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 July 1984.

    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.