Northern Wisconsin State Fair Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NORTHERN WISCONSIN STATE FAIR ASSOCIATION INC'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE GROUNDS AND FACILITIES THAT PROMOTE EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS ENHANCING THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 99
- Volunteers
- 800
- Highest pay
- $110,778, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 (5)
- $2.4 million spent. PROVIDE FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR NORTHERN WISCONSIN, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL COUNTY/REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL FAIR. DURING THE 5-DAY FAIR EVENT, 600 EXHIBITORS ENTERED 4,826 EXHIBITS. FAIR ATTENDANCE WAS 95,000 PEOPLE WITH 48 DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL-EDUCATION RELATED ACTIVITIES. FACILITIES WERE ALSO UTILIZED FOR 32 ADDITIONAL EVENTS BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST THEIR FUNDRAISING GOALS TO MEET THEIR MISSIONS IN THE REGION.
- HOSTED CITY OF CHIPPEWA FALLS POLICE, FIRE, AND EMT TRIANING TO INCLUDE K- 9, VEHICLE PURSUIT, AND FIRE TRUCK DRIVING TRAINING. HOSTED NATIONAL NIGHT OUT FOR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, EMT, FIRE DEPARTMENTS FROM CHIPPEWA FALLS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THESE PROGRAMS HAD ATTENDANCE OF OVER 3,500 PEOPLE.
- PROVIDED FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS FOR 4-H & FFA MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND FACILITIES FOR CHIPPEWA FALLS PUBLIC SCHOOL EQUESTRIAN TEAM AS NEEDED. THESE FACILITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ARE CONDUCTED FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER. FACILITIES WERE UTILIZED FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 75 DAYS.
- PUBLIC SCHOOL USE OF FACILITIES FOR GRADUATION AND OTHER SCHOOL GATHERINGS. FACILITES SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY FESTIVALS TO INCLUDE SPRINGFEST, OKTOBERFEST, INDIANHEAD KENNEL CLUB, CAR SHOW, STATE DARTBALL TOURNAMENT, TO NAME A FEW. TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR NON-FAIR EVENTS IS ESTIMATED AT 28,000.
- PUBLIC SCHOOL USE OF FACILITIES FOR GRADUATION AND OTHER SCHOOL GATHERINGS. FACILITES SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY FESTIVALS TO INCLUDE SPRINGFEST, OKTOBERFEST, INDIANHEAD KENNEL CLUB, CAR SHOW, STATE DARTBALL TOURNAMENT, TO NAME A FEW. TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR NON-FAIR EVENTS IS ESTIMATED AT 28,000.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 2025.
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 March 2014.
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.