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Wisconsin Association of Lakes Inc

EIN 39-1926001 · Sun Prairie, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES IS TO CONSERVE, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE WISCONSIN'S 15,000 LAKES TO ENSURE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE BENEFIT AND COLLECTIVE USE AND ENJOYMENT FOR THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$215,495
Spending
$199,492
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$74,280, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $66,664 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAKE ORGANIZATIONS: THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES PROVIDES DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAKE ORGANIZATIONS IN WISCONSIN ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES THROUGH ONE ON ONE CONSULTATIONS AND MEETINGS. IN 2024 THIS WORK FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS, INCLUDING HOW TO HOLD EFFECTIVE MEETINGS, HOW TO COMPLY WITH STATE OPEN MEETINGS LAWS, THE REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING A NONPROFIT LAKE ASSOCIATION OR SPECIAL PURPOSE UNIT OF GOVERNMENT LAKE PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE IMPACTS OF WAKE BOATS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL IMPACTS TO LAKES, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND PROBLEMS WITH SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT AND POLLUTED RUNOFF.
  2. $57,140 spent. EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS: THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND THE LAKES COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ABOUT BASIC LAKE ECOLOGY, SHORELINE MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION, AND VARIOUS THREATS TO HEALTHY LAKE ECOSYSTEMS. WISCONSIN LAKES OFFERS DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS TO PROMOTE THIS INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE "LAKE CONNECTION"", AN E-NEWSLETTER OF GENERAL INFORMATION, THE "LAKE POLICY REPORT" WHICH COVERS STATE LEVEL POLICY THAT IMPACTS WATER, AND A BLOG AND OTHER INFORMATIONAL POSTS ON OUR WEBSITE, WISCONSINLAKES.ORG.IN ADDITION, WE PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AND PRESENT AT SEVERAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS AS PART OF THE WISCONSIN LAKES & RIVERS PARTNERSHIP, A COLLABORATION WITH THE EXTENSION LAKES PROGRAM AT UW-STEVENS POINT, THE WI DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. EVENTS INCLUDED THE WISCONSIN LAKES & RIVERS CONVENTION, THE NORTHWEST WISCONSIN LAKES CONFERENCE, AND THE SIX-COUNTY NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN LAKES CONFERENCE.
  3. $34,652 spent. LAKEKIT: THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES PROVIDES ACCESS TO A WEBSITE PLATFORM FOR LAKE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH OUR LAKEKIT PROGRAM. USING A "MULTI-SITE NETWORK" PLATFORM ON WORDPRESS, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER LOW COST WEBSITES TO LAKE ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THE LAKEKIT PROGRAM HANDLES BACK END MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, BACKUPS, UPGRADES, AND TROUBLESHOOTING, WHICH LEAVES THE INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS TO FOCUS ON CONTENT. MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM IS HANDLED BY A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, WI LAKES STAFF, AND A PROFESSIONAL WEB SERVICES PROVIDER. THE LAKEKIT PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE LAKE ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT UTILIZING A ROBUST ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AS WELL AS BUILDING TOOLS TO PROVIDE CHANNELS TO COMMUNICATE "LAKE NEWS" STATEWIDE.
  4. $19,440 spent. GENERAL ADVOCACY: THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LAKES WORKS WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO MOVE FORWARD PROACTIVE POLICY INITIATIVES, INCREASE FUNDING FOR LAKE RELATED PROGRAMS, AND ENSURE LAKE INTERESTS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY OUR REPRESENTATIVES. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO WORKS WITH STATE AGENCIES TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED PROTECTIONS FOR LAKES IN ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND HELPS ITS MEMBERS UNDERSTAND STATEWIDE LAKE ISSUES AND PARTICIPATE IN THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.