Whitetails Unlimited Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
391415070
IRS 990 coverage
2011–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2012, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Sturgeon Bay, WI, USA
Phone
9207436777
Rating
66
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Natural Resources Conservation and Protection

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$14,337,122
Expenses
$12,750,188
Assets
$22,300,626
Liabilities
$3,030,838

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

12 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JEFFREY SCHINKTEN (PRESIDENT)
  • DAVID HAWKEY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • DAVID HAWKEY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $207,422 total reported compensation
  • JOEL REYNOLDS (FIELD DIRECTOR): $177,704 total reported compensation
  • DANIEL VOGT (FIELD DIRECTOR): $169,483 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Since our beginning in 1982, whitetails unlimited has remained true to its mission and made tremendous strides in the field of conservation. Thanks to more than 475 chapters, 121,000 plus members, volunteers, and corporate sponsors, whitetails unlimited has earned the reputation of being the nation's premier organization dedicating its resources to the betterment of the white-tailed deer and its environment. Our mission is to raise funds in support of educational programs, wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition, and preservation of the shooting sports and hunting tradition for future generations. To date, whitetails unlimited has expended more than $147 million on program services and activities that continue to enhance and ultimately foster the organization's mission.

What it reported doing in 2024

Outreach program whitetails unlimited provides humanitarian services through initiatives that demonstrate the highest levels of philanthropy by directly reaching out to people in need and helping make a real difference. Kids of target initiative to help introduce youth to shooting sports, the kids on target initiative provides archery and firearm kits to mentors and youth events. Kids on target kits are available from whitetails unlimited. 2024 - 2025 annualwhitetails unlimited programs and initiatives, including local grassroots projects that reinforce the organization's mission are showcased in this publication. The annual is provided to members and volunteers and is available from whitetails unlimited. Hunt for the hungry initiativevenison donated to food pantries by hunters provide countless meals for the less fortunate and whitetails unlimited provides grants to aid in processing and distribution.physically disabled initiativewhitetails unlimited provides grants to assist the physically disabled with experiencing the great outdoors. This includes activities to expose participants to conservation, fishing, and hunting.tree stand safety initiativehunting from a tree stand can be an inherently dangerous situation and whitetails unlimited educates its members about the importance of utilizing a full body fall arrest harness system and being attached to a lifeline or safe line. Whitetail watch initiative reducing the crime of poaching improves hunter/landowner relations. Participating landowners will post whitetail watch signs on their property to remind poachers that citizens are on the watch and suspicious activity will be reported to local wildlife law enforcement. Whitetail watch property signs are available from whitetails unlimited.sight-in target initiativeto help ensure hunters and shooting enthusiasts are confident in their ability to shoot their firearm safely and accurately, sight-in targets are available from whitetails unlimited.shooting team initiativewhitetails unlimited provides grants to youth archery and firearm teams, and public ranges to preserve the shooting sports.deer management initiativeto provide landowners and hunters with an overview of white-tailed deer management and wildlife habitat enhancement options, deer management property signs and educational booklets are available from whitetails unlimited.dream shed initiative in partnership with catch-a-dream foundation and drury outdoors, whitetails unlimited has provided grants totaling over $800,000 for hunting and fishing experiences for youth with a physician-certified life-threatening medical condition. R-3 initiative to perpetuate wildlife conservation and regulated hunting, whitetails unlimited r-3 (recruit, retain, and reactivate) initiative provides educational activities and grants to partners.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 70% for direct work, and 30% for grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. A relatively small share of voting board members are independent and the filing does not identify recipients for some grant dollars.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 75
  • Transparency & Controls: 67
  • Accountability: 42
  • Sustainability: 59
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 75.8%; rating input score 76
  • Program expense ratio: 83.6%; rating input score 84
  • Fundraising efficiency: $11.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Missing
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 48%; rating input score 48; 11th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 11.1%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.75; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 11.8%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 5% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 10.2% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 12.9% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 75.8% of revenue deployed · 83.6% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 0 of 3 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 5 filed program accomplishments · $10.7M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $207K · 12 people listed · 2 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 2 contractors listed · $314K reported
  • Consistency: 37 of 38 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 12 filing years from 2011 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 145 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 133 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Accountability: Independent voting board scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Grant itemization coverage scored 48/100.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 41/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 57/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 15/100.
  • Review — Transparency & Controls: Domestic grant itemization did not reconcile in the filed values.