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Wisconsin Wetlands Association Inc

EIN 39-1852601 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Wisconsin Wetlands Association is dedicated to the protection, restoration, and enjoyment of wetlands and associated ecosystems through science-based programs, education, and advocacy.

Income
$856,095
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
10
Volunteers
53
Highest pay
$74,545, 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 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 (3)
  1. $355,245 spent. 1. Wetland Outreach and Education: in 2024-25, WWA developed and presented education and outreach programs to diverse audiences of laypersons and experts and advanced the use of wetland science on matters related to wetland conservation. Programs include a bi-weekly webinar called the Wetland Coffee Break featuring short wetland-related presentations; workshops, field trips, and presentations; advising landowners about wetland preservation, restoration, and management; distribution of the book, My Healthy Wetlands (to help landowners care for their wetlands), and an annual wetland science conference. More than 400 people attended and participated in WWA's 2025 Wetland Science Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
  2. $300,713 spent. 2. Public Policy Advocacy: In 2024-2025, WWA's policy program work continued to emphasize building the policy and program supports needed to increase the use of wetland restoration to solve problems. Our focus this year was supporting collaborations to help multiple state agencies implement newly enacted policies and programs that enable wetlands conservation. These included administration of a newly issued General Permit for Hydrologic Restoration, a newly enabled Pre-Disaster Flood Resilience Grant Program, and promoting use of cost share dollars to restore wetlands in agricultural landscapes. Our Executive Director continued to serve as Vice Chair of the governor's Wetland Study Council. This council, representing private, agricultural, conservation, and other diverse interests discusses and develops recommendations on statewide wetland issues.
  3. $180,594 spent. Program Development: In 2024-2025 WWA continued working to help Lake Superior Basin communities identify and prioritize areas where restoring wetlands and floodplains could help reduce downstream flood risks and vulnerabilities and prevent road and culvert washouts. This included a NOAA funded collaboration with partners in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Other activities included the development and delivery of training sessions on hydrology fundamentals for state agricultural engineers and water regulatory staff, and development of proposal for a collaborative project with Wisconsin Department of Transportation focused on evaluating opportunities to restore wetlands to protect vulnerable state roads. Funding for that project was approved by a private foundation and work will commence in March 2026.

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 August 1996.

    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.