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Nonprofit · EIN 26-2143608

WCIJ INC

Tax-exempt · MADISON, WI 53706

Financials

$1.9M$2.1M2023$3.9M$2.5M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of WCIJ INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$3,907,685$2,492,617$1,415,068$3,201,417$107,862$3,093,555
December 31, 2023990$1,893,764$2,115,429-$221,665$1,780,424$101,937$1,678,487
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$3,879,414
Program service revenue
$8,621
Investment income
$17,230
Other revenue
$2,420

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$160,889
Other salaries and wages
$1,174,044
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,535,135
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$12,321
Accounting fees
$11,500
Occupancy
$15,866
Travel
$44,486
Depreciation
$1,142
Program services (functional)
$1,736,330
Management and general (functional)
$336,168
Fundraising (functional)
$420,119

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$1,780,424
Total assets, end of year
$3,201,417
Total liabilities, end of year
$107,862
Net assets, end of year
$3,093,555
Net assets without donor restrictions
$297,188
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,796,367
Gross receipts
$3,907,685
Employees
40
Volunteers
15
Year formed
2008
State of legal domicile
WI

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
GEORGE STANLEYCEO
Officer
40$150,000$10,889
KATHY BISSENCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
HERMAN BAUMANNSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
REGINA MILLNERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL LOUIS VINSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
KATHLEEN KINGSBURYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MUKHTAR IBRAHIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BARBARA JOHNSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LOUISA LINCOLNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CARL MUELLERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ELLEN GILLIGANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
ANDREW HALLEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$94,554
GEORGE STANLEYCEO
Officer
40$30,000
BARBARA JOHNSONINTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (THRU DEC 2023)
Officer
40$27,457
MICHAEL LOUIS VINSONCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
BRANT HOUSTONVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
HERMAN BAUMANNSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
BILL MERRICKTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
KATHY BISSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MUKHTAR IBRAHIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DEBORAH BIDDLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
LOUISA LINCOLNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
REGINA MILLNERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
821 UNIVERSITY AVE, MADISON, WI 53706-1412
In care of
% ANDREW HALL
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
GEORGE STANLEY, 821 UNIVERSITY AVE 5TH FLOOR, MADISON, WI 53706
Signed the 990
GEORGE STANLEY, CEO
Phone
(608) 262-3642
Return prepared by
WEGNER CPAS LLP

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE QUALITY, QUANTITY AND UNDERSTANDING OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO FOSTER AN INFORMED CITIZENRY AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • LAUNCHED IN 2009, WISCONSIN WATCH IS A RELIABLE AND TRUSTED SOURCE FOR REPORTING INFORMATIVE AND EMPOWERING NEWS ABOUT OUR STATE. WISCONSIN WATCH AIMS TO REBUILD LOCAL JOURNALISM ACROSS THE STATE BY COLLABORATING, NOT COMPETING, WITH OTHER NONPARTISAN LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE OUR FOUNDING, WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO RIGOROUSLY TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF JOURNALISTS. WISCONSIN WATCH HAS A HISTORY OF PROVIDING FACT-BASED, NONPARTISAN REPORTING THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC AND STRENGTHENS DEMOCRACY. OUR SOLUTIONS-FOCUSED JOURNALISM SHINES A LIGHT ON ISSUES LIKE SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE ECONOMY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC POLICY, COMMUNITY HEALTH, AND EDUCATION.
    Expenses $1,736,330 · revenue $8,621

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
26-2143608
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2009
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$3,201,417
Income (IRS master file)
$3,907,685

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$3,907,685$2,492,617$3,201,417XML
990December 2023$1,893,764$2,115,429$1,780,424XML
990December 2022$1,705,138$1,838,337$1,982,854IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 26-2143608).

Questions about WCIJ INC

What is the EIN of WCIJ INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of WCIJ INC is 26-2143608.
Is WCIJ INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2009.
Are donations to WCIJ INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does WCIJ INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of WCIJ INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did WCIJ INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of WCIJ INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names GEORGE STANLEY.
Who are the officers and directors of WCIJ INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $150,000 (GEORGE STANLEY, CEO).
How much revenue does WCIJ INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $3,907,685, expenses of $2,492,617 and total assets of $3,201,417 at year end.

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