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Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation Inc

EIN 39-1557486 · Fitchburg, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE FOOD SERVICE AS A PROFESSIONAL CAREER PATH, ATTRACT AND EDUCATE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE INDUSTRY AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, QUALITY TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR THOSE ALREADY WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$917,043
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
29
Highest pay
$218,226, secretary, president & ceo

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: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $432,091 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - THE FOUNDATION OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHICH ARE GEARED TO ATTRACT AND EDUCATE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE INDUSTRY AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND CERTIFICATION FOR THOSE ALREADY WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDES THE PROSTART HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE-PREP PROGRAM WHICH COMBINES CUTTING-EDGE EDUCATION WITH REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE STUDENTS TOWARD SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS SERVSAFE REVIEW COURSES AND CERTIFICATION EXAMS FOR INDIVIDUAL WHO ARE SEEKING A CERTIFIED FOOD PROTECTION MANAGER CREDENTIAL.
  2. $31,688 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS - THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS (BOTH TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL) SEEKING POST-SECONDARY DEGREES IN CULINARY ARTS AND/OR RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT. THE FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDED BY ITS OWN ENDOWMENT FUND, WHICH ARE AWARDED ONCE A MINIMUM ENDOWMENT THRESHOLD HAS BEEN MET. SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES INCLUDE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SOLICITING APPLICANTS, PROCESSING APPLICATIONS, ORGANIZING THE SELECTION PROCESS, NOTIFYING WINNERS, AND ADMINISTERING FUNDS TO THE WINNERS' SCHOOLS OF CHOICE.
  3. $31,048 spent. MEMBER SERVICES - MEMBER SERVICES CONSISTS OF PROVIDING GUIDANCE, SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO PROMOTE MEMBER SATISFACTION. THE LOCAL CHAPTERS ARE OPERATING TO FURTHER THE ASSOCIATION'S MISSION BY FOCUSING ON THEIR REGIONS AND COMMUNITIES. THE ASSOCIATION ASSISTS WITH ORGANIZATION OF CHAPTER MEETINGS AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT ON NEW CHAPTERS AND CHANGES IN BOUNDARIES. THE ASSOCIATION SELLS DINING GIFT CERTIFICATES TO THE PUBLIC THAT CAN BE REDEEMED AT ANY PARTICIPATING MEMBER RESTAURANT WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE EXPOSURE TO THESE MEMBERS.
  4. $14,386 spent. PUBLIC RELATIONS - CONSISTS OF EFFORTS TO ADVANCE FOOD SERVICE TOURISM GOALS BY PROMOTING A POSITIVE INDUSTRY IMAGE THROUGH PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PROFESSIONALISM, AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

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 November 1987.

    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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