Family Service Madison Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION: PROVIDING HUMAN SERVICES TO INSTILL HOPE AND PROMOTE WELLNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 58%
- Employees
- 59
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $99,550, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (7)
- $1.9 million spent. BRIDGES FOR FAMILIES - AN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING WITHIN THE MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1992. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIREMENTS AS DESCRIBED BY WI DHS CHAPTER 90 AND PART C IDEA. BRIDGES FOR FAMILIES IS COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING NATIONAL EARLY INTERVENTION BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS DEFINED BY RELATIONSHIP-BASED PRIMARY COACH AND TEAMING PRACTICES IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE TEAM USES EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY INTERVENTION COACHING AND TEAMING PRACTICES TO SUPPORT THE CHILD AND PARENT IN THEIR EVERYDAY ROUTINES AND ACTIVITIES. TEAM MEMBERS DEVELOP PLANS HONORING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE, RECOGNIZING PRIVILEGE AND SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION AND THE IMPACT ON MARGINALIZED GROUPS. THE SERVICE TEAM ARE SELECTED FROM THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES: SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, SOCIAL WORKERS, INFANT MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, FAMILY EDUCATION AND COUNSELING SERVICE PROVIDERS, INFANT MASSAGE SPECIALISTS, REGISTERED DIETICIAN/NUTRITION, TEACHER OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS, DEAF/HARD OF HEARING SPECIALIST.
- $494,126 spent. COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES - PROVIDES OUTPATIENT AND IN-HOME THERAPY TO CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS, MANY RELATED TO THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAUMA. CLIENT EXPERIENCES ARE MANY BUT INCLUDE CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, FAMILY SEPARATIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND LIFE TRANSITIONS RESULTING IN DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ATTACHMENT ISSUES, DIFFICULTY FORMING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS, DIFFICULTY WITH DEVELOPMENTAL TRANSITIONS, SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIORS, AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS, AND POOR ACADEMIC AND WORK PERFORMANCE. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM HAS OVER THIRTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING TREATMENT TO PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND CLIENTS WHO USE AGGRESSION, BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS, MALE AND FEMALE. THIS HAS GIVEN US THE KNOWLEDGE BASE TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH BOTH COURT ORDERED AND VOLUNTARY CLIENTS WHO OFTEN ARE UNMOTIVATED TO PARTICIPATE IN TREATMENT.
- $476,087 spent. DAY TREATMENT SERVICES - THIS DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH, MALE AND FEMALE, AGES 10-14 WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THEIR HOME, SCHOOL, AND/OR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. THESE CHILDREN ARE UNABLE TO SUSTAIN FULL SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND REQUIRE AN INTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION TO GET BACK ON TRACK. YOUTH MAY PRESENT BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND JUVENILE JUSTICE ISSUES. PROGRAM GOALS: TO STABILIZE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THROUGH A STRUCTURED TREATMENT ENVIRONMENT, TO INCREASE THE CHILD'S LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN HOME, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS, TO SUPPORT PARENTS/CAREGIVERS TO MORE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE THEIR CHILD'S CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR, TO COORDINATE WITH SCHOOL PERSONNEL THROUGH REGULAR CONTACTS/VISITS TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE THE CHILD INTO FULL DAY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, TO BUILD ON THE CHILD'S STRENGTHS WHILE IMPROVING SOCIAL AND COMPETENCY SKILLS, TO DECREASE COMMUNITY/DELINQUENCY VIOLATIONS, AND TO ASSIST THE CHILD/FAMILY IN MEETING THEIR IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND GOALS.
- $199,911 spent. EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - A PROGRAM THAT COMPANIES CAN PURCHASE AS A BENEFIT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES WHICH INCLUDES BRIEF COUNSELING, ON-SITE TRAINING, MANAGEMENT CONSULTATION, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONSULTATION.
- $187,699 spent. PICADA PREVENTION SERVICES - INCLUDES EDUCATION, TRAINING, CONSULTATION, NETWORKING, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION FOR ALL AGES TO REDUCE AODA RISK FACTORS AND INCREASE HEALTHY INFLUENCES.
- $151,242 spent. IN-HOME SERVICES - A COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE FAMILY FUNCTIONING, AVOID PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN OUTSIDE THE HOME, AND IMPROVE FAMILY WELL-BEING.
- $41,187 spent. ANTI-VIOLENCE - A PROGRAM FOR MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE WITH THEIR PARTNERS, WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND HAVE RETALIATED AGAINST ABUSE, CHILDREN WHO WITNESS DOMESTIC ABUSE, AND TEENS WITH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1937.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.