United Sportsmen of Wisconsin
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| United Sportsmen of Wisconsin | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Glenwood City, Wis. |
| Type: | 501(c)(4) |
| Top official: | Andy Pantzlaff, President |
| Year founded: | 2011 |
United Sportsmen of Wisconsin (USW) was a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that lobbied for sporting policies such as the creation of a wolf hunt and a bill to enable more development in wetlands. The organization received a $500,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that was later rescinded after USW misrepresented its nonprofit status and failed to file certain federal tax forms.[1]
As of 2015, USW appeared to have stopped operating: its website was no longer functional and the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board has not reported any lobbying activity on behalf of the organization since the first half of 2013.[2][3]
Mission
The organization gave the following statement describing its primary purpose on a 2013 tax form:[2]
| “ |
Supporting the safe and responsible practices of hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting and promoting policies that allow and encourage sportsmen to enjoy these activities and the outdoors in general.[4] |
” |
Work
United Sportsmen of Wisconsin was responsible for mailings in the 2011 state Senate recall elections and co-sponsored the Sportsmen Freedom Fest and Concert with Americans for Prosperity and the National Rifle Association shortly before the 2012 presidential election.[1] The organization also operated an affiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation.[5]
Lobbying
The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board reported that USW hired Scott Meyer in the first half of 2013 to lobby the Wisconsin State Legislature on bills pertaining to bow hunting and mining regulations. The organization paid Meyer $23,660 for 132 hours of lobbying and 34 hours of "other" work.[3] The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that United Sportsmen of Wisconsin spent a total of $60,387 "lobbying lawmakers in favor of sporting legislation, such as the creation of a wolf hunt, as well as bills to ease the way for a controversial open-pit iron mine in northern Wisconsin and to better enable development in wetlands."[1]
Board members
A 2013 USW tax form filed with the IRS lists the following individuals:[2]
- Andy Pantzlaff, Vice President
- Annette Olson, Treasurer-Secretary
- Dave Zien, Director
However, most news articles written about the organization refer to Andy Pantzlaff as the president of United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, not the vice president.[6][7][8]
Finances
The following is a breakdown of United Sportsmen of Wisconsin’s revenue and expenses for the 2010-2013 tax years:
| Annual revenue and expenses for United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, 2010-2013 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2013[2] | $21,579 | $33,690 |
| 2012[9] | $51,813 | $80,769 |
| 2011[10] | $235,000 | $195,956 |
Citizens for a Strong America, a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(4), gave $235,000 to United Sportsmen of Wisconsin when it was founded in 2011.[1][11]
DNR grant and tax status
In 2013, United Sportsmen of Wisconsin was the only applicant for a two-year, $500,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the purpose of promoting hunting, fishing and trapping. The organization claimed that it had been granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status by the IRS, but it was unable to produce a letter from the agency confirming the group's tax-exempt status. Nevertheless, a state DNR committee voted 4-1 to recommend USW to receive the grant.[6][12] The grant was awarded on August 29, 2013, and in early September USW issued a statement saying that, despite previous claims, it had not secured tax-exempt status with the IRS. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker responded to this announcement by canceling the grant.[1][7]
Noteworthy events
John Doe investigations
Two John Doe investigations, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2015, were launched by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm (D) into the activities of staff and associates of Gov. Scott Walker (R).[13] United Sportsmen of Wisconsin was one of 29 conservative organizations that were targeted during the course of the second of two John Doe investigations in Wisconsin related to Gov. Scott Walker (R).[14][15]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms United Sportsmen of Wisconsin. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Citizens for a Strong America
- Scott Walker
- Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
- John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker
- 501(c)(4)
- Nonprofit organization
External links
- GAB Eye on Lobbying: United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, Inc.
- United Sportsmen of Wisconsin on GuideStar
- USW Foundation on GuideStar
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Embattled United Sportsmen group has yet to file corrected tax forms," December 15, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 GuideStar, “United Sportsmen of Wisconsin IRS Form 990 (2013),” accessed July 29, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Government Accountability Board, "Lobbying Principals: United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, Inc.," accessed July 31, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ GuideStar, "United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed July 31, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "DNR awards $500,000 grant despite thorny questions," August 29, 2013
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Associated Press, "DNR: Governor cancels grant to sportsmen's group," accessed August 12, 2015
- ↑ WTAQ, "UPDATE: Andy Pantzlaff talks about resignation from hunting group," September 24, 2013
- ↑ GuideStar, “United Sportsmen of Wisconsin IRS Form 990 (2012),” accessed July 29, 2015
- ↑ GuideStar, “United Sportsmen of Wisconsin IRS Form 990 (2011),” accessed July 29, 2015
- ↑ GuideStar, "Citizens for a Strong America IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed July 31, 2015
- ↑ WiscNews, "Sportsmen's group to get $500,000 grant," August 30, 2013
- ↑ United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Milwaukee Division, "Eric O’Keefe, and Wisconsin Club for Growth, Inc.," accessed February 23, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin Watchdog, "Wall Street Journal: GAB targeted conservative justices in John Doe defense," September 17, 2015
- ↑ Eric O'Keefe v. Francis Schmitz, et al., "Complaint," accessed September 16, 2015
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