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← WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY INC

Form 990 for tax year 2022

Filed by WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,665,104
Total expenses
$3,417,220
Contributions and grants received
$4,496,396
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$201,000
Investment income
$3,663
Other revenue
-$35,955
Total assets, end of year
$6,156,366
Total liabilities, end of year
$284,052
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,872,314
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,791,318
Management and general expenses
$337,679
Fundraising expenses
$288,223
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,791,318

Program services were 81.7% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $62,298

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,434,098

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $201,000 · related or exempt $201,000

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $4,418 · excluded $4,418

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

    other assets $755

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    other assets -$755

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$755 · excluded -$755

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $46,954

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $62,298

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $82,909

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$35,955 · excluded -$35,955

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $937,563 · program services $787,554 · management and general $84,380 · fundraising $65,629

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,373,096 · program services $1,153,401 · management and general $123,578 · fundraising $96,117

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $122,804 · program services $103,156 · management and general $11,052 · fundraising $8,596

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $200,413 · program services $168,347 · management and general $18,037 · fundraising $14,029

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $157,969 · program services $132,694 · management and general $14,217 · fundraising $11,058

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $8,015 · program services $6,252 · management and general $561 · fundraising $1,202

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $9,911 · program services $7,730 · management and general $694 · fundraising $1,487

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $23,912 · fundraising $23,912

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $207,711 · program services $152,956 · management and general $25,316 · fundraising $29,439

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $26,353 · program services $13,172 · management and general $3,077 · fundraising $10,104

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $10,064 · program services $6,713 · fundraising $3,351

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $163,560 · program services $137,391 · management and general $14,720 · fundraising $11,449

  • 17 · Travel

    total $3,951 · program services $2,765 · management and general $593 · fundraising $593

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $41,503 · program services $37,353 · management and general $2,075 · fundraising $2,075

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $26,754 · program services $18,728 · management and general $5,351 · fundraising $2,675

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $6,502 · program services $5,462 · management and general $585 · fundraising $455

  • 24a · Other expenses: BOOKS, SUBSCRIPTIONS, R

    total $20,648 · program services $20,648

  • 24b · Other expenses: CASE COSTS

    total $18,751 · program services $18,751

  • 24c · Other expenses: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OU

    total $11,024 · program services $5,512 · fundraising $5,512

  • 24d · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $10,534 · program services $6,241 · management and general $4,293

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $36,182 · program services $6,492 · management and general $29,150 · fundraising $540

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $4,212,786 · end of year $4,794,702

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $296,951 · end of year $990,347

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $3,000 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $7,631 · end of year $7,333

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

    $170,870

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

    $99,016

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $91,562 · end of year $71,854

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $12,500 · end of year $292,130

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    end of year $149

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $283,903

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,746,805 · end of year $4,297,570

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $877,625 · end of year $1,574,744

Mission and programs · 2022

Mission

THE ORGANIZATION SHALL ADVANCE THE RULE OF LAW, FREE MARKETS AND A ROBUST CIVIC CULTURE THROUGH LITIGATION, RESEARCH, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND THE PROVISION OF LEGAL COUNSEL TO LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

  • LITIGATION: THE WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF FREE MARKETS, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, AND A ROBUST CIVIL SOCIETY THROUGH EDUCATION, LITIGATION AND PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE AS A NON-PROFIT AND NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION LITIGATES IN THE AREAS OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, THE FREEDOM TO EARN A LIVING, VOTING RIGHTS, REGULATION, TAXATION, SCHOOL CHOICE, AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AS AN EDUCATION ORGANIZATION, THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO ADVANCE THE DEBATE CONCERNING LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY IN THESE AND OTHER AREAS. OTHER AREAS INCLUDE OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS. WE HAVE ASSISTED MANY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS. SUCH ASSISTANCE INCLUDES HELP DRAFTING REQUESTS, AND WRITING THREATENING LETTERS TO RECALCITRANT GOVERNMENTS.

    Expenses $1,513,276

  • POLICY & EDUCATION INTITIATIVE: THIS PROJECT REVOLVES AROUND EXPANDING PARENTAL AND SCHOOL AUTONOMY, DISRUPTING THE ENTRENCHED BUREAUCRACIES, AND PUSHING FOR POLICIES THAT MAKE STATE FUNDS FOLLOW THE STUDENT. IN SHORT, WE SEEK TO PROMOTE AND DEFEND EDUCATIONAL CHOICE. WE PURSUE THESE OBJECTIVES THROUGH CAREFUL STRATEGIC LITIGATION AND PUBLIC ADVOCACY, INCLUDING REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES.

    Expenses $1,278,042

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • James T Barry III

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michael Grebe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Christopher Wolfe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michael H White

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Richard M Esenberg

    PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSE

    Total calculated
    $441,048
    From this org
    $408,624
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,424
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $408,624
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $30,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,924
    Filer's total
    $441,048
  • Stacy A Stueck

    TREASURER & DIRECTOR OF AD

    Total calculated
    $138,285
    From this org
    $108,587
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,698
    Hours/week
    40
  • Anthony Lococo

    DEPUTY COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $187,557
    From this org
    $150,972
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,585
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,972
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,809
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,776
    Filer's total
    $187,557
  • Elisabeth Sobic

    DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION POLI

    Total calculated
    $170,673
    From this org
    $154,502
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,171
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,502
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,450
    Nontaxable benefits
    $721
    Filer's total
    $170,673
  • Dan Lennington

    DEPUTY COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $186,353
    From this org
    $142,094
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $44,259
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $142,094
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,872
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,387
    Filer's total
    $186,353
  • Luke Berg

    DEPUTY COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $186,473
    From this org
    $145,086
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,387
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $145,086
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,836
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,551
    Filer's total
    $186,473
  • Kyle Koenen

    DIRECTOR OF POLICY

    Total calculated
    $138,647
    From this org
    $111,467
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,180
    Hours/week
    40
  • Lucas Vebber

    DEPUTY COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $182,183
    From this org
    $141,191
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,992
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $141,191
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,482
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,510
    Filer's total
    $182,183
  • Leslie Luehrs

    DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $138,340
    From this org
    $107,884
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,456
    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. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

FORM 990 PART I, LINE 3:
COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND KEY PERSONNEL IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD. COMPARATIVE DATA IS USED TO REVIEW COMPENSATION LEVELS FOR ALL STAFF.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2022
Filed
10 April 2023
IRS schema version
2022v5.0
Source object
202331029349301803

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