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Wisconsin Historical Foundation
Wisconsin Historical Foundation reported $35.0 million in revenue and $14.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.68 went to program services, $22.62 to management and general costs and $7.70 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 85.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $188,681 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 314% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $15MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $35MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.7% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 22.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 85.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 8.4% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $188,681 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.28% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 63.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 23 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHistory center campaign: to raise funds to support the planning, design, and construction of a new history center
Museums and historic sites: the division of museums and historic sites collects and preserves the material culture of wisconsin and interprets the state's history and prehistory for the public. The division fulfills its educational role through exhibitions, tours and a variety of public programs conducted at the Wisconsin Historical museum in madison, and at historic sites and other venues throughout the state
Whf support for society: whf manages funds that support the society's operations. These funds include endowments, spend-down funds, funds without donor restrictions, and a board designated quasi-endowment. Expenditures from endowments and spend-down funds restricted to the society's programs and operations are managed through the society's annual budget planning process. Whf informs the society of available fund balances, and the society's leadership determines funds to be transferred. Depending on the fund type, whf charges fees for the management of funds. These fees help offset whf…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $170,290 | $0 | $18,391 | $188,681 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Wisconsin Historical Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $209K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b23 · 23 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 50
- Volunteers Part I, line 623
Private foundation grants it received
22 private foundations reported grants to Wisconsin Historical Foundation totaling $332K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Wisconsin Historical Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Wisconsin Historical Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Wisconsin Historical Foundation spent in FY2025, $69.68 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Opera Theatre of Saint LouisSt Louis, MO · revenue $35M · programs 73.2% · FY2025
- Cox Science Center and AquariumWest Palm Beach, FL · revenue $35M · programs 66.2% · FY2025
- Providence Performing Arts CenterProvidence, RI · revenue $35M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
- National Football MuseumCanton, OH · revenue $35M · programs 56.7% · 2024
- Bethel Woods Center for the ArtsLiberty, NY · revenue $35M · programs 87.3% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Wisconsin
Questions people ask
How much of Wisconsin Historical Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Wisconsin Historical Foundation reported that 69.7% of its $14.7 million in expenses went to program services, 22.6% to management and general and 7.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Wisconsin Historical Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Wisconsin Historical Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $188,681, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Wisconsin Historical Foundation get its money?
Of $35.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 85.8% came from contributions and grants and 8.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Wisconsin Historical Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-0921093 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202610579349300711 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521059349301707 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431249349300643 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340759349300649 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241049349300234 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202120579349300722 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-0921093: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.