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Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

EIN 39-1468447 · Odanah, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FISH, WILDLIFE, AND TREATY PROTECTION

Income
$12.9 million
Spending
$12.2 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 90%
Employees
133
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$103,782, director of

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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 67% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. FUNCTIONAL CATEGORY: LAW ENFORCEMENT / TRIBAL COURTS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) AFFIRMING & IMPLEMENTING TREATY RIGHTS, (2) ENFORCEMENT, AND (3) FISHERIES. (1) AFFIRMING & IMPLEMENTING TREATY RIGHTS: PROTECT CEDED TERRITORY RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE TRIBES FOR THEMSELVES IN TREATIES SIGNED IN 1836, 1837, 1842, AND 1854. (2) ENFORCEMENT: PROTECT THE FISH AND GAME WITHIN THE CEDED TERRITORIES THROUGH BOTH EDUCATION AND PATROL. GLIFWC WARDENS ROUTINELY PATROL AND MONITOR TREATY HARVEST ACTIVITIES IN THE CEDED TERRITORIES OF MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, AND MINNESOTA, CHECKING FOR INFRACTIONS OF TRIBAL CODES GOVERNING TREATY HARVEST SEASONS. VIOLATIONS ARE CITED INTO TRIBAL COURTS. (3) FISHERIES: ENSURE TREATY RESERVED FISHING RIGHTS ARE PRESERVED BY ASSISTING MEMBER TRIBES IN FISHERY ASSESSMENTS AND REGULATION OF GICHIGAME (LAKE SUPERIOR) TREATY COMMERCIAL FISHERIES AND OTHER INLAND FISHERIES. FUNCTIONAL CATEGORY: LAW ENFORCEMENT / TRIBAL COURTS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) AFFIRMING & IMPLEMENTING TREATY RIGHTS, (2) ENFORCEMENT, AND (3) FISHERIES. (1) AFFIRMING & IMPLEMENTING TREATY RIGHTS: PROTECT CEDED TERRITORY RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE TRIBES FOR THEMSELVES IN TREATIES SIGNED IN 1836, 1837, 1842, AND 1854. (2) ENFORCEMENT: PROTECT THE FISH AND GAME WITHIN THE CEDED TERRITORIES THROUGH BOTH EDUCATION AND PATROL. GLIFWC WARDENS ROUTINELY PATROL AND MONITOR TREATY HARVEST ACTIVITIES IN THE CEDED TERRITORIES OF MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, AND MINNESOTA, CHECKING FOR INFRACTIONS OF TRIBAL CODES GOVERNING TREATY HARVEST SEASONS. VIOLATIONS ARE CITED INTO TRIBAL COURTS. (3) FISHERIES: ENSURE TREATY RESERVED FISHING RIGHTS ARE PRESERVED BY ASSISTING MEMBER TRIBES IN FISHERY ASSESSMENTS AND REGULATION OF GICHIGAME (LAKE SUPERIOR) TREATY COMMERCIAL FISHERIES AND OTHER INLAND FISHERIES.
  2. $5.7 million spent. FUNCTIONAL CATEGORY: BIOLOGY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) CLIMATE CHANGE, (2) ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION, AND (3) FOREST PESTS. (1) CLIMATE CHANGE: GLIFWC'S CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAM IS WORKING TO DEFINE THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF THESE CHANGES IN THE CEDED TERRITORIES IN ORDER TO ASSIST ITS MEMBER TRIBES IN CO-MANAGING TREATY RESOURCES. (2) ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION: SUPPORT TRIBAL EXERCISE OF TREATY RIGHTS THROUGH A WIDE NUMBER OF INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THREATS TO RESOURCES FROM MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES. (3) FOREST PESTS: PROTECT AGAINST INVASIVE INSECTS AND DISEASES THREATENING CEDED TERRITORIES FORESTS, AND THE LIFEWAYS AND TRADITIONS THEY SUPPORT.
  3. $471,794 spent. FUNCTIONAL CATEGORY: PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC (1) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC: INFORMATION AND RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON GLIFWC'S WEBSITE INCLUDE HARVEST REGULATIONS, CAMPING, REGISTRATION, TREATY RIGHTS, MAPS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND VARIOUS REPORTS. GLIFWC ALSO MAKES INFORMATION AVAILABLE THROUGH PAMPHLETS AND GUIDES.
  4. $1.0 million spent. OTHER

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 June 1985.

    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.