Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Urban Ecology Center Inc

EIN 39-1712663 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CONNECT PEOPLE IN CITIES TO NATURE AND EACH OTHER.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
138
Volunteers
2,438
Highest pay
$172,000, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 August 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 (4)
  1. $1.9 million spent. PROVIDE OUTDOOR SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR MILWAUKEE- AREA STUDENTS. THE URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER PARTNERS WITH OVER 70 SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE EACH WITH 24 HALF-DAY FIELD TRIPS ANNUALLY. THESE HANDS-ON SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLIMENT THE SCHOOLS' SCIENCE CURRICULA AND CONNECT STUDENTS TO THE NATURAL WORLD IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE. PRESCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS COMPLIMENT THE SCHOOL PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OVER 35,000 CHILDREN WERE SERVED THROUGH THESE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. PROMOTE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT LEARNING, VOLUNTEERISM, STEWARDSHIP, RECREATION AND CAMARADERIE. THE URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER'S ACTIVE COMMUNITY CENTERS ENGAGE ADULTS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH PROGRAMMING AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. OVER 3,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS URBAN ADVENTURES, WORKSHOPS, OR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. OVER 5,000 PEOPLE VISITED AS PART OF FACILITY RENTAL EVENTS. OUR ROBUST VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SERVED 2,438 VOLUNTEERS. AN ADDITIONAL 32,900 PEOPLE VISITED OUR BRANCHES TO ENJOY OUR COMMUNITY SPACES.
  3. $1.2 million spent. PRESERVE, ENHANCE, PROTECT AND USE PUBLIC NATURAL AREAS, MAKING THEM SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND VIBRANT. A VARIETY OF RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, INCLUDING SURVEYS OF BIRDS, BATS, MAMMALS, TURTLES, VEGETATION SURVEYS AND PARK USE SURVEYS. UEC'S LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ENGAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN DIVERSE NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES. THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED OVER 1,100 PARTICIPANTS IN THESE RESEARCH AND LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. OVER 2,400 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN OUR NATURE BASED OFFERINGS OVERALL AND GAVE OVER 9,300 TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS ACROSS 3 BRANCHES.
  4. $677,725 spent. PREPARE LAND FOR FUTURE MISSION IMPACT. PRACTICE AND MODEL ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 April 1992.

    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.