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Prairie Enthusiasts Inc

EIN 39-1601574 · Viroqua, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE SEEK TO ENSURE THE PERPETUATION AND RECOVERY OF PRAIRIE, OAK SAVANNA, AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ECOSYSTEMS OF THE UPPER MIDWEST THROUGH PROTECTION, MANAGEMENT, RESTORATION, AND EDUCATION. IN DOING SO, WE STRIVE TO WORK OPENLY AND COOPERATIVELY WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND OTHER PRIVATE AND PUBLIC CONSERVATION GROUPS.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
-98.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
26
Volunteers
1,500
Highest pay
$91,446, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% 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 455% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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

    16 of 16 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 March 31, 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 (3)
  1. $613,935 spent. LAND MANAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITES IN 2025 INCLUDED: PRESCRIBED BURNING CLEARING AGGRESSIVE BRUSH AND TREES, REMOVING NONNATIVE FORBS, DISPERSING NATIVE PLANT SEEDS FOR PRAIRIE RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION. MUCH OF THIS WORK IS PERFORMED BY VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S 12 REGIONAL CHAPTERS. THOSE CHAPTERS PROTECT AND STEWARD ECOSYSTEMS WITHIN WISCONSIN, ILLINOIS AND MINNESOTA.
  2. $263,041 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITES INCLUDE: PRESCRIBED BURN TRAINING DISTRIBUTING A PUBLICATION CALLED THE PRAIRIE PROMOTER HOSTING AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE WITH VARIOUS LEARNING SESSIONS CONDUCTING FIELD TOURS OF LOCAL PRAIRIES AND SAVANNAS A STAFF ECOLOGIST WHO PERFORMS LANDOWNER VISITS AND PROVIDES MANAGEMENT ADVICE AND OFFERING WORKSHOPS LIKE PLANT AND BUTTERFLY IDENTIFICATION.
  3. $132,886 spent. THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS FOCUS ON PROTECTION OF RARE, FIRE-DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS OF THE UPPER MIDWEST. PROTECTION IS ACHIEVED WITH THE COLLABORATION OF LANDOWNERS THROUGH LAND DONATIONS, PURCHASES, AND EASEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS. IN 2025, THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS COMPLETED THE PURCHASE OF TWO PARCELS OF LAND THAT IS NOW PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 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 March 2025.

    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 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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