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Wisconsin Institute For Law & Liberty Inc

  • Milwaukee, WI
  • Tax-exempt since Dec. 2011
  • EIN: 45-1606079

Organization summary

Type of Nonprofit

Designated as a Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Category: Crime, Legal-Related / Public Interest Law, Litigation (NTEE)

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Summary charts: organization finances over time

Revenue
$3.6M (2023)

Expenses
$3.61M (2023)

Total Assets
$6.08M (2023)

Total Liabilities
$210k (2023)

Source: Form 990 tax filings from 2011 to 2023

Tax Filings by Year

Form 990 is an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS. Nonprofit Explorer has IRS digitized Form 990 data for filings processed in 2012 and later. If this organization filed an amended return, it may not be reflected below. Duplicate download links may indicate a resubmission or amendment to this organization's original return. Form 990 data is from the IRS.

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2023

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,604,933
Expenses
$3,610,660
Net Income
-$5,727
Net Assets
$5,866,231
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $3,464,457
96.1%
Program Services $54,884
1.5%
Investment Income $126,305
3.5%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising -$41,978
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $1,265
0.0%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $1,211,136
33.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $40,464
1.1%
Other Salaries and Wages $1,319,486
36.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,076,165
Total Liabilities $209,934
Net Assets $5,866,231
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President & General Counse) $425,249 $0 $34,924
Luke Berg (Deputy Counsel) $161,797 $0 $44,910
Dan Lennington (Deputy Counsel) $153,272 $0 $47,895
Lucas Vebber (Deputy Counsel) $152,797 $0 $43,665
Leslie Luehrs (Development Director) $125,567 $0 $33,963
Kyle Koenen (Director Of Policy) $123,359 $0 $29,252
Patrick Garrett (Deputy Counsel) $115,457 $0 $19,917
Stacy A Stueck (Treasurer & Director Of Ad) $114,881 $0 $31,747
William Flanders (Deputy Counsel) $108,061 $0 $21,734
James T Barry Iii (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Michael Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
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Document Links

990
Filed on April 10, 2024

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2022

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$4,665,104
Expenses
$3,417,220
Net Income
$1,247,884
Net Assets
$5,872,314
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $4,496,396
96.4%
Program Services $201,000
4.3%
Investment Income $4,418
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising -$35,955
Sales of Assets -$755
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $937,563
27.4%
Professional Fundraising Fees $23,912
0.7%
Other Salaries and Wages $1,373,096
40.2%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,156,366
Total Liabilities $284,052
Net Assets $5,872,314
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President & General Counse) $408,624 $0 $32,424
Elisabeth Sobic (Director Of Education Poli) $154,502 $0 $16,171
Anthony Lococo (Deputy Counsel) $150,972 $0 $36,585
Luke Berg (Deputy Counsel) $145,086 $0 $41,387
Dan Lennington (Deputy Counsel) $142,094 $0 $44,259
Lucas Vebber (Deputy Counsel) $141,191 $0 $40,992
Kyle Koenen (Director Of Policy) $111,467 $0 $27,180
Stacy A Stueck (Treasurer & Director Of Ad) $108,587 $0 $29,698
Leslie Luehrs (Development Director) $107,884 $0 $30,456
James T Barry Iii (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Michael Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
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990
Filed on April 12, 2023

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2021

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$4,311,176
Expenses
$3,119,137
Net Income
$1,192,039
Net Assets
$4,624,430
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $4,312,035
> 100%
Program Services $39,999
0.9%
Investment Income $1,385
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising -$42,493
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $250
0.0%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $1,311,824
42.1%
Professional Fundraising Fees $55,681
1.8%
Other Salaries and Wages $771,519
24.7%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $4,624,430
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $4,624,430
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President & General Counse) $380,892 $0 $31,787
Luke Berg (Deputy Counsel) $135,110 $0 $41,314
Anthony Lococo (Deputy Counsel) $128,958 $0 $35,785
Dan Lennington (Deputy Counsel) $123,418 $0 $42,576
Elisabeth Sobic (Director Of Education Policy) $120,562 $0 $12,579
Kyle Koenen (Director Of Policy) $102,781 $0 $26,621
Stacy A Stueck (Treasurer & Director Of Administration) $100,543 $0 $28,899
James T Barry Iii (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Michael Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
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990
Filed on April 13, 2022

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2020

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,847,886
Expenses
$2,593,490
Net Income
$254,396
Net Assets
$3,432,391
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,833,691
99.5%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $17,008
0.6%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$2,813
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $958,486
37.0%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $795,376
30.7%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,453,645
Total Liabilities $21,254
Net Assets $3,432,391
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President & General Counsel) $354,592 $0 $61,590
Anthony Lococo (Deputy Counsel) $107,058 $0 $29,716
James Pugh (Director Of Advancement) $104,221 $0 $36,139
Luke Berg (Deputy Counsel) $103,210 $0 $37,280
Stacy A Stueck (Director Of Administration & Board Secretary) $98,543 $0 $26,138
James T Barry Iii (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Michael Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
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990
Filed on Sept. 27, 2021

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2019

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,344,648
Expenses
$2,518,375
Net Income
-$173,727
Net Assets
$2,877,995
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,239,536
95.5%
Program Services $50,692
2.2%
Investment Income $25,180
1.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $29,240
1.2%
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $768,698
30.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $31,566
1.3%
Other Salaries and Wages $757,742
30.1%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,892,940
Total Liabilities $14,945
Net Assets $2,877,995
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Rick Esenberg (President & General Counsel) $315,300 $0 $57,004
Charles Szafir (Former Executive Vp) $150,000 $0 $30,660
James Pugh (Director Of Advancement) $100,300 $0 $15,798
Stacy A Stueck (Director Of Administration) $94,000 $0 $18,800
James T Barry Iii (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Michael Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

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990
Filed on Nov. 16, 2020

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2018

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,910,930
Expenses
$2,020,784
Net Income
-$109,854
Net Assets
$3,051,722
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,841,926
96.4%
Program Services $75,616
4.0%
Investment Income $16,506
0.9%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising -$23,118
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $461,120
22.8%
Professional Fundraising Fees $16,319
0.8%
Other Salaries and Wages $835,213
41.3%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,059,172
Total Liabilities $7,450
Net Assets $3,051,722
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President & General Counsel) $294,840 $0 $54,713
Charles Szafir (Executive Vp) $136,519 $0 $29,151
Thomas Kamenick (Deputy Counsel) $102,546 $0 $29,799
Stacy A Stueck (Vp For Administration) $90,407 $0 $21,160
James T Barry Iii (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael W Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

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990
Filed on Nov. 8, 2019

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2017

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,117,912
Expenses
$1,907,460
Net Income
$210,452
Net Assets
$3,161,576
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,013,511
95.1%
Program Services $103,279
4.9%
Investment Income $3,528
0.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising -$2,098
Sales of Assets -$308
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $364,800
19.1%
Professional Fundraising Fees $13,728
0.7%
Other Salaries and Wages $737,171
38.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,162,126
Total Liabilities $550
Net Assets $3,161,576
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President And Treasurer) $280,000 $0 $0
Stacy A Stueck (Secretary) $84,800 $0 $0
James T Barry Iii (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael W Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
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990
Filed on Nov. 7, 2018

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2016

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,378,877
Expenses
$1,599,898
Net Income
-$221,021
Net Assets
$2,951,124
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,362,699
98.8%
Program Services $22,499
1.6%
Investment Income $1,017
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising -$7,338
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $409,965
25.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $14,005
0.9%
Other Salaries and Wages $575,716
36.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,043,650
Total Liabilities $92,526
Net Assets $2,951,124
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President And Treasurer) $253,574 $0 $54,179
Stacy A Stueck (Secretary) $80,000 $0 $22,212
James T Barry Iii (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael W Grebe (Director) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

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990
Filed on Nov. 6, 2017

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2015

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,001,261
Expenses
$1,309,639
Net Income
$1,691,622
Net Assets
$3,172,145
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,973,108
99.1%
Program Services $27,470
0.9%
Investment Income $683
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $377,276
28.8%
Professional Fundraising Fees $5,006
0.4%
Other Salaries and Wages $317,129
24.2%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,368,483
Total Liabilities $196,338
Net Assets $3,172,145
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President And Treasurer) $228,000 $0 $54,156
Stacy A Stueck (Secretary) $72,500 $0 $22,619
James T Barry Iii (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
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990
Filed on Aug. 15, 2016

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2014

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,611,698
Expenses
$791,708
Net Income
$819,990
Net Assets
$1,480,523
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,462,199
90.7%
Program Services $149,089
9.3%
Investment Income $410
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $345,703
43.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $3,798
0.5%
Other Salaries and Wages $237,259
30.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,480,523
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $1,480,523
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President And Treasurer) $208,500 $0 $47,682
Stacy A Stueck (Secretary) $68,750 $0 $20,771
James T Barry Iii (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
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990
Filed on Aug. 11, 2015

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2013

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$938,547
Expenses
$663,606
Net Income
$274,941
Net Assets
$660,533
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $906,928
96.6%
Program Services $31,415
3.3%
Investment Income $204
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $312,048
47.0%
Professional Fundraising Fees $17,503
2.6%
Other Salaries and Wages $178,202
26.9%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $660,533
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $660,533
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Richard M Esenberg (President And Treasurer) $182,500 $0 $46,134
Stacy A Stueck (Secretary) $63,250 $0 $20,165
James T Barry Iii (Director) $0 $0 $0
Michael H White (Director) $0 $0 $0
Christopher Wolfe (Director) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

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990
Filed on May 15, 2014

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2012

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$664,068
Expenses
$514,619
Net Income
$149,449
Net Assets
$385,592
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $653,128
98.4%
Program Services $10,693
1.6%
Investment Income $247
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $286,042
55.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $101,709
19.8%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $386,638
Total Liabilities $1,046
Net Assets $385,592

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2011

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$511,939
Expenses
$275,796
Net Income
$236,143
Net Assets
$236,143
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $505,000
98.6%
Program Services $6,575
1.3%
Investment Income $364
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $189,260
68.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $243,303
Total Liabilities $7,160
Net Assets $236,143

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

About This Data

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

The summary data contains information processed by the IRS during the 2012-2019 calendar years; this generally consists of filings for the 2011-2018 fiscal years, but may include older records. This data release includes only a subset of what can be found in the full Form 990s.

In addition to the raw summary data, we link to PDFs and digital copies of full Form 990 documents wherever possible. This consists of separate releases by the IRS of Form 990 documents processed by the agency, which we update regularly.

We also link to copies of audits nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year since 2016. These audits are copied from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Which Organizations Are Here?

Every organization that has been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS has to file Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets, in which case they have to file form 990-EZ. Organizations making less than $50,000 don’t have to file either form but do have to let the IRS they’re still in business via a Form 990N "e-Postcard."

Nonprofit Explorer has organizations claiming tax exemption in each of the 27 subsections of the 501(c) section of the tax code, and which have filed a Form 990, Form 990EZ or Form 990PF. Taxable trusts and private foundations that are required to file a form 990PF are also included. Small organizations filing a Form 990N "e-Postcard" are not included in this data.

Types of Nonprofits

There are 27 nonprofit designations based on the numbered subsections of section 501(c) of the tax code. See the list »

Get the Data

For those interested in acquiring the original data from the source, here’s where our data comes from:

  • Raw filing data. Includes EINs and summary financials as structured data.
  • Exempt Organization profiles. Includes organization names, addresses, etc. You can merge this with the raw filing data using EIN numbers.
  • Form 990 documents. Prior to 2017, these documents were obtained and processed by Public.Resource.org and ProPublica. Bulk PDF downloads since 2017 are available from the IRS.
  • Form 990 documents as XML files. Includes complete filing data (financial details, names of officers, tax schedules, etc.) in machine-readable format. Only available for electronically filed documents. Electronic data released prior to October 2021 is also available through Amazon Web Services.
  • Audits. PDFs of single or program-specific audits for nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year. Available for fiscal year 2015 and later.

API

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Byline

By Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford and Ash Ngu, ProPublica, and Brandon Roberts, Special to ProPublica.
Design by Jeff Frankl. Additional development by Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, and Sisi Wei.

E-file viewer adapted from IRS e-File Viewer by Ben Getson. Code for scraping audit documents adapated from Govwiki.

Updated