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Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Inc

EIN 39-6040605 · Grafton, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 32% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WSO IS TO PROMOTE THE ENJOYMENT, STUDY AND CONSERVATION OF BIRDS.

Income
$183,545
Spending
$151,292
Spent on programs
32%
Reserves
47.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
2
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$57,750, 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    32% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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. $33,290 spent. PUBLISH 11-ISSUE NEWSLETTER AND JOURNAL, SENT TO 1,100 MEMBER EMAIL AND TRADITIONAL ADDRESSES; PUBLISH CHECKLISTS AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST TO CITIZEN SCIENTISTS AND BIRDER HOBBYISTS. FURTHERING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED ITS NONPROFIT STATUS, THE JOURNAL ROUTINELY FEATURES ARTICLES ON ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND CITIZEN-BASED SCIENCE. IT ALSO PRESENTS REPORTS FROM THE BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE AND SEASONAL SIGHTINGS OF RARE BIRDS. OBJECTIVE: TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
  2. $5,500 spent. WSO GAVE NINE (9) $500 GRANTS AND ONE (1) $1000 GRANT IN 2024. GRANTS WENT TO NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN AUDUBON SOCIETY, INC., CEDAR GROVE ORNITHOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION, FRIENDS OF BEAVER CREEK RESERVE, VICTORIA PIASKOWSKI, BRAD BUMGARDNER AND RIVEREDGE NATURE CENTER FOR FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION. (1) PROJECT SOAR (SNOWY OWL AIRPORT RESCUE PROGRAM); (2) TRACKING THE PHANTOMS (RED-SHOULDERED HAWK MONITORING PROGRAM); AND (3) BIRD MONITORING AT RESTORATION SITES ON THE ONEIDAN NATION RESERVATION; (4) KESTREL MONITORING PROGRAM; (5) BLUEBIRD RESTORATION PROJECT; (6) NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL BANDING; (7) BIRD BANDING AT RIVEREDGE NATURE CENTER.
  3. $5,482 spent. WSO PROGRAMMING INCLUDES ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE ENJOYMENT, STUDY AND CONSERVATION OF WISCONSIN'S BIRDS. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, WSO SPONSORED BIRDING FIELD TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OFFERS RESEARCH GRANTS, AND SERVES AS AN INFORMATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER ON BIRD-RELATED ISSUES.
  4. $4,505 spent. CONTINUE WORK ON PREPARATION FOR PUBLISHING AN UPDATED EDITION OF ATLAS OF THE BREEDING BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. OBJECTIVE: TO DOCUMENT BREEDING ACTIVITY OF WISCONSIN'S BIRDS, THEREBY INCREASING BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD HABITAT AND EMPHASIZING THE IMPACT OF HABITAT CHANGE ON BIRD POPULATIONS AND NESTING SUCCESS.

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 1971.

    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.