GREAT LAKES LIFEWAYS INSTITUTE

🔒

Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

Sign in with your work email to view Tuckman-Chang indicators

Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

2009

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

Zac Earley

Phone

6166443822

Tax Period

2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

GREAT LAKES LIFEWAYS INSTITUTE, founded in 2009, is a small nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $287K in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue fell 37% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring.

Mission

Great Lakes Lifeways Institute partners with communities to revitalize living land-based knowledge through practice. For nearly fifteen years, our work; canoes, lodges, food systems, harvest camps, and intergenerational learning, has strengthened identity, restored connection, and supported resilient futures. We lead with humility, reciprocity, and deep respect for land, ancestors, and community.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $31,159 Revenue: $0

Giiwekii Flint Corn Restoration Project. This program works to engage community and partnering tribal nations in restoring 8 row northern flint corns on Madeline Island, Wisconsin and the surrounding Chequamegon Bay Area as a sustainable, healthy and regionally climate adapted food source. In 2025 the program engaged over 200 people in the area with programs and education at 5 grow sites about growing, harvesting and processing.

Program 2

Expenses: $21,827 Revenue: $0

Canoe Journeys Program. This program serves to promote the reconnection to knowledge and practice of traditional watercraft and waterways within our region. This includes community projects to build and restore traditional bark canoes and dugout canoes, create educational resources and get community on local waterways. During 2025 major program accomplishments included: building a canoe lodge on Madeline Island in partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Society, a community restoration of a 1907 birch bark canoe, supporting Master Canoe Builder Marvin Defoe, from Red Cliff, in building a birch bark canoe and construction of a Dakota style white pine canoe with Dakota Community at Prairie Island in Minnesota.

Program 3

Expenses: $16,437 Revenue: $0

Reestablishing Indigenous Spaces. This program is focused on assisting Tribal Communities and First Nations in revitalizing land based indigenous architectural traditions and in maintaining...

Reestablishing Indigenous Spaces. This program is focused on assisting Tribal Communities and First Nations in revitalizing land based indigenous architectural traditions and in maintaining traditional structures used for education and community wellbeing. In 2025 major accomplishments include: Construction of a 26 foot birch bark lodge as a living classroom space on Madeline Island and direct support for upkeep on traditional community lodges at Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Walpole Island First Nation

🔒

Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

Sign in to view Trantor Score and financial metrics

Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $125,052

Program Service Revenue $159,153

Investment Income $2,810

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $287,015

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $0

Fundraising Expenses $0

Program Expenses $69,423

Other Expenses $285,533

TOTAL EXPENSES $285,533

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2025	2024	Change
Revenue	$287,015	$456,539	-0.4%
Expenses	$285,533	$442,715	-0.4%
Net Income	$1,482	$13,824	-0.9%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✗ Schedule B Required

🔒

Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

Sign in to view all financial metrics

Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

N/A

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✗ Conflict of Interest Policy

✗ Whistleblower Policy

✗ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
Sandy Gokee	Director	2.00		$0	$0	$0
Zachary Earley	Director	2.00	Officer	$0	$0	$0
Dale Kakak	Director	2.00	Officer	$0	$0	$0
Dustin Twiss	Director	2.00	Officer	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$287,015	$285,533	$2,528	$1,482
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data