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Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council

EIN 39-1451323 · Stevens Point, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF GOLDEN SANDS RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INCORPORATED IS TO MANAGE NATURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES IN WAYS CONSISTENT WITH SOUND CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES BY WORKING ACROSS COUNTY LINES TO ADDRESS LOCAL CONCERNS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
42
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$73,664, 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS, AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE CENTRAL WISCONSIN A BETTER PLACE TO WORK AND LIVE BY PROMOTING CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY FORESTS, ABUNDANT WILDLIFE, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.CLEAN WATER - OUR CLEAN BOATS, CLEAN WATERS PROGRAM ASSISTED LAKES IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN WITH HIRING AND TRAINING SUMMER WATERCRAFT INSPECTORS. SUMMER STAFF WERE HIRED TO TALK WITH BOATERS AT BOAT LANDINGS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REMOVING PLANTS AND DRAINING ALL WATER TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. OUR EFFORTS HELPED BOATERS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE IN KEEPING OUR LAKES BEAUTIFUL! HEALTHY FORESTS - IN 2024, WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR DEMONSTRATION FOREST PROJECT. THE DEMONSTRATION FORESTS ACT AS LIVING CLASSROOMS AND SITES FOR EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS CAN LEARN ABOUT FOREST MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR PROPERTY. IN 2024, WE HOSTED 3 DEMONSTRATION FOREST EVENTS LOCATED AT THE MARATHON COUNTY DEMO FOREST, PORTAGE COUNTY DEMO FOREST AND ONE AT THE MONROE COUNTY DEMO FOREST. ABUNDANT WILDLIFE - WE PARTNERED WITH THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE ON A NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION MONARCH PROGRAM THAT COVERS 54 COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. THE FOCAL SPECIES OF THIS PROGRAM ARE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, RUSTY PATCH BUMBLEBEE, AND THE KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLY. THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, OUR HABITAT RESTORATION TECHNICIAN WORKS WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS ACROSS THE STATE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE 1,000 ACRES OF POLLINATOR HABITAT OVER 2 YEARS.SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO LEAD IN SUPPORTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (USDA-NRCS), IN WISCONSIN, BY CO-EMPLOYING AFFILIATE STAFF THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN. THESE EMPLOYEES BOOSTED THE CAPACITY OF THE LOCAL OFFICES BY TAKING ON A VARIETY OF TASKS SUCH AS: ENTERING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, WRITING CONSERVATION PLANS, AND DOCUMENTING COMPLETED CONSERVATION PROJECTS. IN 2024 WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR GRAZING WORK THROUGH BUILDING THE BUZZ ABOUT GRAZING IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM HELPS US REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND BETTER SERVE PRODUCERS NEEDS.

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 March 1998.

    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.