Passes our checks

Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks Inc

EIN 39-1667467 · Hudson, WI

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

What it says it does

Promote environmental education and stewardship of the natural resources at Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks.

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 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 15.6 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 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 70% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
91% 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
7 of 9 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 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

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

Programs described in its return (2)

$208,730 spent. In 2024, with a volunteer board of nine, and with one and three quarters full-time naturalists employed, the Friends 1. Offered 190 programs to 7,400 participants of all ages and backgrounds through school field trip programs, naturalist classes, weekend events, and drop-in programs focused on geology, human history, the natural environment, recreation, and other educational and seasonal topics. Including 25 school and youth field trips with 1,284 field trip attendees 8 adult outings including assisted living and dementia care groups. 2. Sought and received grant funding, donations, and volunteer support that resulted in the development of 10 additional miles of mountain biking trails at Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks. 3. Kept Willow River Nature Center staffed and open to the public daily from noon-4 pm for roughly 342 days in 2024, logging 14,442 visitors. 4. Proudly funded, supported, and assisted in stewardship projects and trail (See Schedule O)
Continued from Part III, Question 4 development/maintenance all year round.

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 January 1995.
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.