The Izaak Walton League of America

What it reported doing in 2025

General conservation: the general conservation program advances iwla's conservation policy agenda by providing background information to congress and state legislatures; keeping members informed about federal and state legislative and regulatory issues affecting natural resources and the environment; educating the public about important conservation issues; and assisting members and chapters in implementing local conservation projects. Agriculture: since 1937, iwla has promoted farming methods that sustain people and natural resources. To their credit, american farmers feed the country and much of the world. However, current farm practices, enabled by our farm policy, are polluting our water, eroding our topsoil, and degrading soil health. Investments in conservation over the past half century, paid with tax dollars, have helped, but todays problems affect entire landscapes and they are accelerating. Through national policy advocacy, iwlas goal is to expand agriculture conservation programs and funding to scale up conservation practices across millions of acres of land to improve soil health and the nutritional value of our food, reduce polluted runoff, and combat climate change by sequestering more carbon in soil, wetlands, and grasslands. Missouri river initiative: iwla works with federal and state agencies and private stakeholders in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota to assess the environmental challenges facing the Missouri river ecosystem, restore the river's natural flows, improve fish and wildlife habitat, and provide increased opportunities for outdoor recreation. As part of this ongoing effort, iwla coordinates river cleanups and hosts educational events for students and their families along the river. Convention: iwla's annual convention provides an opportunity for members from around the country to participate in the democratic process that governs iwla and to work together to advance iwla's conservation, outdoor recreation and education mission.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.2%; rating input score 87
• Program expense ratio: 83.4%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.3 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 5.4%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.57; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 16.1%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.5% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings