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Izaak Walton League of America (National Office)

CharityWatch report issued
October 2021

Top-Rated Charity
B+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
67%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$6
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Izaak Walton League of America (National Office)
707 Conservation Lane
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Other Names

IWLA

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.iwla.org

Stated Mission

To conserve, restore and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, water and wildlife.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2020

Program Percentage: 67%

The percentage of Izaak Walton League of America (National Office)'s cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$2,400,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $6

How many dollars Izaak Walton League of America (National Office) spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$2,500,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Izaak Walton League of America IRS Form 990 36-1930035
Izaak Walton League of America Audited Financial Statements 36-1930035
Entity: Izaak Walton League of America
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 36-1930035
Entity: Izaak Walton League of America
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 36-1930035

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Izaak Walton League of America (National Office)
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Izaak Walton League of America (National Office)
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Scott Kovarovics Executive Director $173,207
1
Name: Scott Kovarovics
Title: Executive Director
Compensation: $173,207

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) (tax ID #36-1930035) does not include the financial activities of IWLA's more than 200 local chapters.

According to the IWLA audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Organization):

"IWLA's work is guided by grassroots volunteers. Its more than 200 local chapters advance IWLA's mission nationwide... IWLA's local chapters have been incorporated as separate entities; they do not have common Board members. IWLA does not have the right to appoint the chapter's [sic] Board members. Consequently, IWLA has no controlling interest in the chapters and, therefore, IWLA and the chapters are not required to be consolidated under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The local chapters of IWLA collect membership dues on behalf of IWLA and remit the national dues to IWLA..."

According to the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 11, Legal Settlements):

"IWLA's national headquarters, in conjunction with two of IWLA's divisions and three of IWLA's chapters as plaintiffs, were parties to a legal settlement with an electric utility company...which was amended on October 11, 1983. The settlement is the result of a suit brought by the above parties regarding the environmental protection of the Mississippi River. As a result of the settlement, the plaintiffs were to receive the sum of $350,000 each year through 2012.

"In August 2011, IWLA and the defendants entered into an agreement to continue the cooperative relationship for another six years effective January 1, 2013. Under that agreement, IWLA received $180,000 each year through 2018. In 2018, IWLA and the company executed a donor agreement in which the company agreed to make discretionary contributions of $80,000 annually for six years beginning in 2019. These funds generally support a wide range of League efforts... The most recent payment under this agreement was received during the year ended December 31, 2020 and is included in grants and contributions...

"In addition, IWLA's national headquarters and one of IWLA's divisions were parties to a legal settlement dated February 27, 2013. The settlement is the result of a suit regarding the rightful ownership of four parcels of property located in Sandycreek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, and the rightful ownership of all other assets that were formerly owned by the Franklin Chapter of IWLA. As a result of the settlement, IWLA received the sum of $175,000 during the year ended December 31, 2013. In addition, the defendant assigned 25% of its royalty payments on four existing shallow natural gas wells to IWLA for a period of 10 years from the effective date of the assignment and 33 1/3% of its royalty interest in any natural gas well drilled into the Utica or Marcellus Shale formations for a period of 10 production years per well. During 2020, IWLA received $475 of royalty fees...

"In 2018, IWLA entered into a lawsuit with other organizations against the Federal Government in order to petition the government to modify an administrative process to better assess environmental impacts of large scale mining adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest. IWLA received $254,922 of [in-kind] legal pro bono services during the year ended December 31, 2020..."

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Risks and uncertainties):

"IWLA invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rates, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the accompanying [audited] financial statements."


According to the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Economic uncertainties):

"On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic. As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen which may negatively impact IWLA's operations. The overall potential impact is unknown at this time."

According to The Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) 2020 tax filing, IWLA reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding severance payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a):

"Michael Lynch received severance payments of $24,175."

[Michael Lynch is reported as "Director of Finance (until 2/2020)," with total compensation of $43,008 in 2020 (IRS Form 990, Part VII).]