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1000 Friends of Wisconsin Inc

EIN 39-1857262 · Stevens Point, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH EDUCATION, COALITIONS, POLICY, PLANNING, AND PROJECTS, WE HELP WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENTS, AND PEOPLE MAKE LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS THAT BOTH ACHIEVES HEALTHY, THRIVING, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, AND PROTECTS OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$533,442
Spending
$319,246
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
4
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$82,527, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 142% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $145,007 spent. WE CONTINUED OUR FOCUS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITY DESIGN AND TRANSPORTATION TO HELP BUILD BETTER PLACES TO LIVE. WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPING TRANSIT CONNECTIONS, WE HELP RESIDENTS REDUCE THEIR DEPENDENCE ON CARS. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK PROMOTING STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION POLICY THAT USES "FIX IT FIRST" METHODS RATHER THAN WASTEFUL HIGHWAY EXPANSION RESULTING IN A MORE EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SYSTEM. WE ARE LEADERS OF THE COALITION FOR MORE RESPONSIBLE TRANSPORTATION THAT WORKS ACROSS THE STATE HOLDING FORUMS AND GATHERING STORIES TO BUILD OUR CASE FOR EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. OUR ACTIVE WISCONSIN PROGRAM PROMOTES BIKE, PED AND ROLLING INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS IS THE KEY TO HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND ACCESS BEYOND JUST MOTOR VEHICLES. WE ARE LEADING A CAMPAIGN TO RETHINK 794. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT INFORMS MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS THE VALUE OF TURNING A LOCAL FREEWAY INTO A BOULEVARD TO RECONNECT A COMMUNITY AND OPEN LAND TO DEVELOPMENT FOR AN EXPANDED TAX BASE.
  2. $48,331 spent. WHEN DISCUSSING ECOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN MITIGATION STRATEGIES, THE FOCUS TENDS TO BE ON ENERGY AND ALTERNATIVE TYPES OF ENERGY. A CRITICAL AREA THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN COMBATING ECOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN IS URBAN AND REGIONAL LAND USE PLANNING, HOW COMMUNITIES ARE DESIGNED AND HOW PEOPLE MOVE AROUND THEM HAS BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR MITIGATING AND ADAPTING TO ECOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN. WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF FIGHTING FOR AN EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION FUTURE. WE COORDINATE MEETING ACROSS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO SHARE IDEAS, OFFER RESOURCES, AND SHARE SUCCESS STORIES.
  3. $42,290 spent. WE ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN GOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN AND PROTECTION OF LAND. EVERYTHING THAT WE DO ON THE LAND TOUCHES SOMETHING ELSE. WE ADDRESS POLICIES IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TOO FREQUENTLY UNDERESTIMATED IN THEIR IMPORTANCE TO PROTECTING THE LAND. WE HAVE NEVER STRAYED FROM OUR OBJECTIVE TO CURB SPRAWL THROUGH BETTER USE OF OUR LANDS, BUT WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS THAT MANY OTHER TEND TO OVERLOOK ACHIEVING BENEFITS THAT GO FAR BEYOND ANY ONE COMMUNITY'S BORDERS. WE PROMOTE SOUND LAND USE POLICY THAT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION HOW DEVELOPMENT AFFECTS THE LIVABILITY OF A COMMUNITY. IT CONSIDERS THE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SERVICES (SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, HEALTHY FOOD, SCHOOLS, ETC.), HEALTH IMPACTS, THE CULTURE OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE WILL OF THE RESIDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 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.