Passes our checks

Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve

EIN 39-1608461 · La Pointe, WI

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

What it says it does

PROTECTING WILDERNESS AREAS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 108.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% 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 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
96% 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
12 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$64,961 spent. MADELINE ISLAND WILDERNESS PRESERVE IS A LAND TRUST CURRENTLY HOLDING IN TRUST APPROXIMATELY 2600 ACRES OF FOREST LAND ON MADELINE ISLAND. ALONG WITH GENERAL MANAGMENT OF OUR LANDS, WE MAINTAIN A MEMBERSHIP BASE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 ACTIVE MEMBERS. WE OFFER SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE FORM OF NATURE WALKS AND LECTURES ON AND ABOUT OUR LANDS. ALL OF OUR LANDS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR USE IN HIKING OR HUNTING.
MADELINE ISLAND WILDERNESS PRESERVE IS A LAND TRUST CURRENTLY HOLDING IN TRUST APPROXIMATELY 2100 ACRES OF FOREST LAND ON MADELINE ISLAND. ALONG WITH GENERAL MANAGMENT OF OUR LANDS, WE MAINTAIN A MEMBERSHIP BASE OF 200 ACTIVE MEMBERS. WE OFFER SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE FORM OF NATURE WALKS AND LECTURES ON AND ABOUT OUR LANDS. ALL OF OUR LANDS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR USE IN HIKING OR HUNTING.
MADELINE ISLAND WILDERNESS PRESERVE IS A LAND TRUST CURRENTLY HOLDING IN TRUST APPROXIMATELY 2100 ACRES OF FOREST LAND ON MADELINE ISLAND. ALONG WITH GENERAL MANAGMENT OF OUR LANDS, WE MAINTAIN A MEMBERSHIP BASE OF 200 ACTIVE MEMBERS. WE OFFER SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE FORM OF NATURE WALKS AND LECTURES ON AND ABOUT OUR LANDS. ALL OF OUR LANDS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR USE IN HIKING OR HUNTING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.