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Nonprofiteer
← SOUTHERN WISCONSIN BIRD ALLIANCE INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by SOUTHERN WISCONSIN BIRD ALLIANCE INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$8,405,096
Total expenses
$1,401,420
Contributions and grants received
$7,051,705
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$12,238
Investment income
$1,312,832
Other revenue
$28,321
Total assets, end of year
$22,810,809
Total liabilities, end of year
$141,929
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$22,668,880
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,045,927
Management and general expenses
$221,037
Fundraising expenses
$134,456
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,045,927

Program services were 74.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $5,972

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,045,733

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $3,384,503

  • 2a · Program service revenue: RENTAL INCOME

    total $6,808 · related or exempt $6,808

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $5,430 · related or exempt $5,430

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $168,890 · excluded $168,890

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $7,110,980

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $5,967,038

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $1,143,942

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,143,942 · excluded $1,143,942

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $38,960

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $10,639

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $28,321 · excluded $28,321

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $97,250 · program services $74,297 · management and general $12,036 · fundraising $10,917

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $644,993 · program services $492,764 · management and general $79,824 · fundraising $72,405

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $14,844 · program services $11,341 · management and general $1,837 · fundraising $1,666

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $79,676 · program services $60,871 · management and general $9,861 · fundraising $8,944

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $55,952 · program services $42,746 · management and general $6,925 · fundraising $6,281

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $34,759 · program services $28,625 · management and general $6,134

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $16,747 · management and general $16,747

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $59,962 · management and general $59,962

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $119,629 · program services $82,814 · management and general $11,456 · fundraising $25,359

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $7,045 · program services $1,569 · management and general $5,337 · fundraising $139

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $69,192 · program services $54,446 · management and general $7,154 · fundraising $7,592

  • 17 · Travel

    total $7,844 · program services $7,844

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $48,105 · program services $48,105

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $35,588 · program services $33,110 · management and general $2,478

  • 24a · Other expenses: WILDLIFE/HABITAT RESTOR

    total $94,879 · program services $94,750 · management and general $64 · fundraising $65

  • 24b · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP EXPENSES

    total $8,950 · program services $7,750 · management and general $1,200

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $6,005 · program services $4,895 · management and general $22 · fundraising $1,088

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $284,359 · end of year $486,336

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $413,893 · end of year $99,234

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $289,155 · end of year $98,278

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $20,366 · end of year $18,126

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $15,814,459

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $794,932

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $9,107,632 · end of year $15,019,527

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $5,654,729 · end of year $5,785,812

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $104,643 · end of year $847,414

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $461,533 · end of year $456,082

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $42,890 · end of year $26,227

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $150,296 · end of year $115,702

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,697,259 · end of year $17,020,002

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $5,445,865 · end of year $5,648,878

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY MANAGEMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

  • WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES: SOUTHERN WISCONSIN BIRD ALLIANCE (SOWBA) ACTIVELY PROTECTS, RESTORES, AND MANAGES NEARLY 3,000 ACRES OF LAND. IN DECEMBER 2024, SOWBA PURCHASED 348 ACRES OF LAND IN DANE COUNTY WHICH WILL BECOME THE ORGANIZATION'S FOURTH SANCTUARY. AT OUR THREE EXISTING SANCTUARIES (FAIR MEADOWS, FAVILLE GROVE, AND GOOSE POND) WE CONTINUE PERFORMING HIGH-QUALITY HABITAT CONSERVATION, INCLUDING PRAIRIE PLANTING, NATIVE SEED COLLECTION (FROM 400+ NATIVE SPECIES), AND PRESCRIBED BURNS. WE HOSTED 10 SUMMER INTERNS AND RAN IMPACTFUL VOLUNTEER CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS LIKE MONARCH BUTTERFLY TAGGING, NEST BOX MONITORING, WILDLIFE SURVEYS, AND MUCH MORE. COUNTLESS VISITORS ENJOYED THE OUTDOORS AT OUR SANCTUARIES. WE MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE AND LAND CONSERVATION PERMANENCE AS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, A MARK OF DISTINCTION.

    Expenses $688,461 · Revenue $12,238

  • EDUCATION: SOWBA HAS TWO FULL-TIME EDUCATORS ON OUR STAFF WHO TAUGHT WEEKLY IN ABOUT 14 CLASSROOMS SPANNING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE. WE ALSO WORK WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AT LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS. OUR PARTNERSHIPS ARE WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING GROUPS WITH MORE THAN HALF OF THE KIDS BEING PEOPLE OF COLOR OR FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. OUR FUN, HANDS-ON LESSONS GET KIDS RUNNING, EXPLORING, AND THINKING LIKE SCIENTISTS. LESSONS AND PODCAST EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FREE! WE ALSO PROVIDED MANY ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS LIKE BIRDING 101 AND BIRDING BY EAR (FOR PEOPLE OF ALL VISUAL ABILITIES) IN ADDITION TO A VARIETY OF FIELD TRIPS WELCOMING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES.

    Expenses $212,089

  • ADVOCACY: ALONG WITH ITS MEMBERS, SOUTHERN WISCONSIN BIRD ALLIANCE SUPPORTED MEANINGFUL CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND ADVOCATED WIDELY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES THROUGH A BLOG, NEWSLETTER, EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITE, AND MORE. WE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC OUTREACH THROUGH HYBRID (IN PERSON, STREAMED ONLINE) PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. WE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO IMPROVE REPRESENTATION IN CONSERVATION AND ACCESS TO NATURE FOR BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE COORDINATED MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER-LED CITIZEN SCIENCE EFFORTS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING BALD EAGLE NEST WATCH, NOW ESTABLISHED IN OVER HALF OF THE COUNTIES AROUND WISCONSIN. WE ALSO PROMOTED BIRD-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR BIRD-WINDOW COLLISION MONITORING AND BIRD-WINDOW COLLISION PREVENTION OUTREACH PROGRAMS. IN FEBRUARY 2024, MIDDLETON PASSED A BIRD-SAFE GLASS ORDINANCE THAT MATCHED THE ONE UPHELD BY THE CITY OF MADISON. SOWBA ALSO COORDINATES MONTHLY MEETINGS FOR A COALITION OF BIRD AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN OUR COLLECTIVE APPROACH AND WORK TO BETTER ADVOCATE FOR BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS.

    Expenses $145,377

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Matthew Fortney

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Patrick Clark

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jeff Galligan

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tim Norris

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lisa Lepeak

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Darcy Kind

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Joanne Jones

    DIRECTOR (THRU NOV)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Matt Krueger

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Olivia Dunn

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dexter Patterson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Patrick Eagan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Janet Silbernagel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jasmine Banks

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Matt Reetz

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $97,250
    From this org
    $94,417
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,833
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
11 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533159349306083

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