Friends of the Welty Environmental Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to provide leadership in environmental education by equitably engaging the diverse residents of the Stateline region with activities that foster an appreciation of nature & promote environmental stewardship
- Income
- $315,094
- Spending
- $232,142
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 48.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $49,490, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 48.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $68,308 spent. Weltys main source of program revenue and expenses are field trips for area school districts (Beloit, Turner, Janesville, Milton), preschool programs (Even Start, Head Start, Community Kids) and private and charter school groups(The Lincoln Academy,Rock Co.Montessouri). We also provide programing for service organizations (YMCA, Community Action) funded by local granting agencies (Stateline Community Foundation. Hendricks Family Foundation, Ecolab Foundation). Most of these trips happen at Big Hill Park, where the Welty Center is located, but Welty also leads after school programs that take place in school building (SDBs Todd Elementary). Participants: 7,112
- $68,308 spent. Welty offers nature-themed public programs at its Big Hill Park location and other sites in the Stateline Area (Nature at the Confluence, Nygren Wetlands, Beckman Mill County Park) for individuals & families. Welty also runs day camps & no-school days during the school year, and weekly during the summer. Thanks to a National Science Foundation GEOPAths grant, Welty hosted high school interns for a semester-long experience, offered summer career exploration camps, and ran a summer day camp for autistic teenagers. Participation: 1,513
- $68,308 spent. Welty leads environmental education programs on-request for service organizations (Rock Co.Conservationists, Skype-a-Scientist,YWCA) and area libraries. Welty sponsored an intern who brought programs to area service providers funded by a donation from a Welty donor. WElty also host table activities at various community days, farmers markets, and special school expos. Participants: 704
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.