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Operation Fresh Start Inc

EIN 23-7108090 · Madison, WI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF OPERATION FRESH START, INC. IS TO EMPOWER EMERGING ADULTS ON A PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORING, AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING. OPERATION FRESH START (OFS) SERVES DISCONNECTED YOUTH AGES 16-24 IN DANE COUNTY AND GUIDING THEM ON THEIR PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OFS HAS HELPED OVER 8,000 YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR PATH TO EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND A BETTER LIFE!OFS PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO TRANSFORM LIVES AT A CRITICAL TIME IN A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE. OUR PROGRAMS PROVIDE A PATH FORWARD FOR DISCONNECTED YOUTH THROUGH MENTORING, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING. OFS GRADUATES EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND DRIVER'S LICENSE, THEN GO ON TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AND/OR FIND SELF-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT.OPERATION FRESH START IS WORKING TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF LOW-INCOME AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
10.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
237
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$132,224, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $4.9 million spent. DRIVE TO SUCCEED: THE DRIVE TO SUCCEED PROGRAM OFFERS MENTORING TO SUPPORT YOUNG ADULTS WITH PAST OR CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS AND METRO HIGH SCHOOL (LOCATED WITHIN THE DANE COUNTY JAIL), OFS SUPPORTS YOUNG PEOPLE IN NAVIGATING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, SATISFYING FINES TO OBTAIN THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. THIS PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATION WITH JUSTDANE, A NONPROFIT WITH EXPERTISE IN SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS REENTERING SOCIETY AFTER A PERIOD OF INCARCERATION. AS AN INCENTIVE, DRIVE TO SUCCEED PARTICIPANTS EARN A $20 GIFT CARD AFTER ATTENDING EACH MENTORING SESSION.LEGACY PROGRAM: THE LEGACY PROGRAM SUPPORTS PARTICIPANTS IN EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND DEVELOPING EMPLOYMENT READINESS SKILLS. PARTICIPANTS WORK IN SMALL GROUPS WITH AN IN-HOUSE TEACHING STAFF. AS AMERICORPS MEMBERS, PARTICIPANTS ALSO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK: EITHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION OR CONSERVATION WORK. AFTER PROGRAM COMPLETION, OFS STAFF CONTINUE TO SUPPORT GRADUATES AS THEY TRANSITION INTO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR SELF-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT. THIS YEAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LOCAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, OFS INTEGRATED FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMMING INTO THE LEGACY CURRICULUM.OPTIONS: THE OPTIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, ASSISTING YOUNG ADULTS IN EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, GED OR HSED. OFS STAFF HELP PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFY THE PATH THAT'S RIGHT FOR THEM AND PROVIDE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT WHILE PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE COURSEWORK.DRIVE: DRIVE IS A FREE DRIVER'S LICENSE ATTAINMENT PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE CLASSROOM AND ONLINE INSTRUCTION, FUNDS FOR THEIR PERMIT TEST, BEHIND-THE-WHEEL LESSONS, AND FUNDS FOR THEIR DRIVER'S TEST. IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A CAR AVAILABLE TO USE FOR THE DRIVER'S TEST, A CAR IS PROVIDED.CAREERSCAPE: OFS CAREERSCAPE COUNSELING ASSISTS YOUNG ADULTS (17-24) WHO NEED SUPPORT WITH EXPLORING CAREER OPTIONS, PREPARING FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND TAKING NEXT STEPS TOWARDS ACHIEVING THEIR CAREER GOALS. CAREERSCAPE STAFF HELP PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFY THEIR INTERESTS, ASSIST WITH SKILL-BUILDING, AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AS THEY EMBARK ON THEIR CAREER JOURNEY.WE WORK WITH PARTICIPANTS ONE-ON-ONE TO DETERMINE THEIR CAREER GOALS AND CREATE A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE HOLISTIC CAREER COUNSELING WHICH INCLUDES: IDENTIFYING CAREER INTERESTS THAT ALIGN WITH SKILLS AND PERSONAL VALUES DEVELOPING A RESUME AND COVER LETTER TEACHING INTERVIEW SKILLS & FACILITATING MOCK INTERVIEWS ASSISTANCE WITH POST-SECONDARY PROGRAM REGISTRATION OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT (TRANSPORTATION, MENTAL HEALTH, CHILDCARE, ETC.) CONNECTING WITH LOCAL RESOURCES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EMPLOYERS CAREERSCAPE COUNSELING SERVES ALL RESIDENTS OF DANE COUNTYRESOURCES: THE TOP REFERRALS THE RESOURCE SPECIALIST MAKES FOR YOUNG ADULTS ARE FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE FOOD, AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. THE RESOURCE SPECIALIST ALSO ORGANIZES VISITS FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO COME TO OFS AND CONNECT WITH YOUNG ADULTS. PUBLIC HEALTH MADISON & DANE COUNTY, DOMESTIC ABUSE INTERVENTION SERVICES, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER HAVE ALL COME TO EDUCATE OFS PARTICIPANTS ABOUT SEXUAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, PLUS HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE ACADEMIES: THE ACADEMIES ARE OFS PROGRAMS FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SHOW REAL PROMISE AND INTEREST IN THE TRADES OR CONSERVATION WORK. BUILD ACADEMY IS FULL-TIME, HIRE-FOR-SERVICE CREWS WHICH WORK ON RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. CONSERVATION ACADEMY IS A FULL-TIME, HIRE-FOR-SERVICE CREW THAT WORKS ON LAND STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.