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Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation Inc

EIN 39-1737786 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak10 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM FOUNDATION PROVIDES PRIVATE FUNDRAISING SUPPORT FOR THE WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM, ENSURING THAT THE MUSEUM CONTINUES ITS RECORD OF EXCELLENCE AS THE PREEMINENT INTERPRETER OF THE WISCONSIN VETERAN EXPERIENCE. WE PURSUE THIS MISSION BY FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES IN FUNDRAISING, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, AND ENSURING THAT THE FIDUCIARY AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FOUNDATION ARE MET.

Income
$201,414
Spending
$256,791
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
0
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$86,290, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 10 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 59% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $119,135 spent. MUSEUM SUPPORT: THE MUSEUM OFFERS SEVERAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR. FOREST HILL CEMETERY TOUR IS HELD EACH FALL AT THE FOREST HILL CEMETERY IN MADISON. THIS AWARD-WINNING LIVING HISTORY PROGRAM ILLUMINATES THE LIVES OF MANY PROMINENT-AND LESSER KNOWN-FIGURES IN WISCONSIN HISTORY. FOCUSING ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WISCONSIN'S SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS DURING THE CIVIL WAR, LOCAL ACTORS AND ACTRESSES DON PERIOD DRESS, GIVING VIEWERS A FIRST PERSON ENCOUNTER THROUGH SCRIPTED VIGNETTES. TOUR GUIDES LEAD INFORMATIVE DISCUSSIONS OF THE CEMETERY'S RICH HISTORY DURING THE 90 MINUTE TOUR. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO RECEIVE ALL REVENUES AND PAY FOR ANY EXPENSES FOR EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS THE MUSEUM HOSTS. MOST OF THE PROGRAMS ARE VIRTUAL, WITH TWO IN-PERSON EVENTS: TALKING SPIRITS AND THE QUARTERLY MESS NIGHT EVENT AT THE MUSEUM. THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM FEES ARE SPONSORED AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC. OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAMS HAVE A REGISTRATION FEE IN ORDER TO COVER THE COST OF FOOD AND BEVERAGES, AS WELL AS SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT. EXHIBITS REPRESENT ONE TYPE OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS DEVELOPED BY THE WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM. TEMPORARY EXHIBITS TYPICALLY RUN FOR 12 TO 18 MONTHS AND ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM FOUNDATION AND THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. DURING 2024/2025, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE, STORAGE OF TRAVELING EXHIBITS AND TWO NEW EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY IN THE TEMPORARY CHANGING GALLERY.THE BUGLE IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM FOUNDATION FOR ITS MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHED FOUR ISSUES DURING THE YEAR AND DISTRIBUTED THEM TO OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS. THE BUGLE IS THE PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR THE WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 1993.

    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.