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Thriving Wisconsin Inc

EIN 36-5263016 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CULTIVATE A SYSTEM OF ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONALS ACROSS WISCONSIN TO PROMOTE QUALITY, STRENGTHS-BASED, EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES IN ALL COMMUNITIES.

Income
$7.1 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
14
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$110,240, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $4.7 million spent. LICENSING PREPARATION -- IN DELIVERING THESE SERVICES, SFTA ALSO PROVIDES CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO OUR REGIONAL CCR&R PARTNERS. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A FIELD OF PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE QUALIFIED AND PREPARED TO PROVIDE LICENSED CHILDCARE. THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT QUALIFIED AND COMMITTED POTENTIAL CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS IN PREPARING FOR THE LICENSING PROCESS BY ENSURING SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS ARE ARRANGED AND APPROPRIATE POLICIES ARE IN PLACE.
  2. $878,437 spent. PARENT EDUCATION INITIATIVE - THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION BOARD, SFTA BUILDS AWARENESS AND INNOVATIVELY SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND THE ACCESSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN WISCONSIN, WHILE THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SUPPORTS TO ENTITIES CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT EDUCATION.
  3. $67,073 spent. TRIBAL TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE -- THIS CONTRACT SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS AND PRIORITIES OF THE WISCONSIN INTER-TRIBAL CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION (WITCCA) IN THE FORM OF HOSTING COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS, RESPONDING TO SALIENT ISSUES VIA CONFERENCE CALLS, BUILDING TRAINER AND CONSULTANT CAPACITY AMONG FIRST NATIONS, DELIVERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CONTINUING PROCESSES TO PLAN, REFINE AND EVALUATE EFFORTS. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ENSURE THAT CHILD CARE RELATED NEEDS, IDENTIFIED BY FIRST NATIONS IN WISCONSIN, ARE RESPONDED TO IN CULTURALLY-RELEVANT AND RESPONSIVE WAYS. THE SHORT-TERM GOAL IS TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESOURCES, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SUPPORT TO FIRST NATIONS.TRIBAL-RURAL PROJECT -- THE TRIBAL-RURAL PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE GOALS OF SUPPORTING TRIBAL AND RURAL CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES, CREDIT-BASED EDUCATION ATTAINMENT, PURSUIT OF ACCREDITATION, AND ENGAGING IN TRAINING AND TECHNICAL CONSULTATION.
  4. $54,275 spent. HEALTHY CHILDRENBEHAVIOR HELP WISCONSIN - WITH FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE UW SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH'S WISCONSIN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, PREVENTINGEXPULSION IN EARLY CARE IS A FIVE GRANT WITH A GOAL TO PREVENT EXPULSION AND ELIMINATE THE DISPARITY IN EXPULSION RATES FOR CHILDREN 0 TO 5. THIS WILL OCCUR BECAUSE THE INNOVATIVE MODEL OF TIERED SUPPORT WILL BE ADOPTED STATEWIDE, SUPPORTING BOTH A CHANGE IN HOW THE FIELD OF EARLY EDUCATION APPROACHES CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS AND A NEW STATE-LEVEL POLICY ON EARLY EXPULSION THAT IS WELL-INFORMED, WELL-FUNDED AND DRIVEN BY FAMILIES AND EARLY EDUCATORS IN WISCONSIN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 1996.

    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 November 4, 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.