Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER MILWAUKEE WAS FOUNDED IN 1887 BY ANNABELL COOK WITHCOMB AND WAS NAMED THE BOYS BUSY LIFE CLUB IN 1900. IN 1984, MEMBERSHIP WAS EXTENDED TO GIRLS AND THE ORGANIZATION BECOME BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS, MAKING MILWAUKEE ONE OF THE FIRST CLUB NETWORKS TO DO SO. TODAY, BGCGM HAS 52 SITES INCLUDING CAMP WHITCOMB/MASON IN HARTLAND, WI AND SERVES 3500 YOUTH DAILY BY PROVIDING MEALS, SAFE SPACES, ACCESS TO ROLE MODELS AND MUCH MORE. BGCGM'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT NEED US MOST, TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. CLUB MEMBERS RECEIVE PROGRAMMING IN SIX CORE AREAS: EDUCATION, ARTS, SPORTS & RECREATION. HEALTH & WELLNESS, LEADERSHIP & SERVICE, AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. EACH AREA IS DRIVEN BY RESEARCH FROM BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OUR CLUB MEMBERS WITH THE OPTIMAL CLUB EXPERIENCE.
- Income
- $34.1 million
- Spending
- $30.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 12.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 47%
- Employees
- 930
- Volunteers
- 364
- Highest pay
- $461,185, ceo/president
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2551 of 51 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, 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 (1)
- $23.0 million spent. CLUB MEMBERS RECEIVE PROGRAMMING IN FIVE CORE AREAS: ESSENTIAL SKILLS WHICH INCLUDES SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP, HEALTH AND WELLBEING, AND LIFE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. EACH AREA IS DRIVEN BY RESEARCH FROM BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OUR CLUB MEMBERS WITH THE OPTIMAL CLUB EXPERIENCE.ESSENTIAL SKILLS (SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT):SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT REFERS TO HOW YOUNG PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES AT A BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HELP THEM BUILD ESSENTIAL SKILLS RELATED TO HOW THEY SEE THEMSELVES, INTERACT WITH OTHERS, MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. BUILDING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS FACILITATES YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND LAYS A NECESSARY FOUNDATION FOR SKILL BUILDING IN OTHER KEY OUTCOME AREAS. AT BGCGM. WE THINK OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS AS A PRECURSOR THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO OPTIMIZE THEIR LEARNING AND HELP THEM DEVELOP OTHER IMPORTANT SKILLS. THE TERM "SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING" IS WIDELY USED IN THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FIELDS. WE PREFER THE TERM "SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT" FOR ITS PRECISION AND CLARITY. BECAUSE THESE TERMS HAVE VARIED CONNOTATIONS IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND AMONG THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER, OUR PROGRAMMING MOVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS AS "ESSENTIAL SKILLS" TO HELP ENSURE AN ACCURATE, COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CLUBS HELP YOUTH DEVELOP IN THIS CRUCIAL AREA. SOMEOF THE MOST IMPACTFUL SKILLS YOUTH LEARN IN A CLUB ARE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS.THESE SKILLS ARE CRITICAL IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND HELP AN INDIVIDUAL COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, WORK WITH OTHERS, AND DEVELOP COPING MECHANISMS TO FACE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS[I]. WITH THESE SKILLS, YOUTH ARE ABLE TO MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS, BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS, AND NAVIGATE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS AND INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS[II].SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS ALSO SERVE AS PROTECTIVE FACTORSAGAINST NEGATIVE OUTCOMES AND ARE THE NUCLEUS OFSUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORS IN ACADEMICS AND COLLEGE READINESS,ARTS AND CREATIVITY, WORK READINESS, HEALTHY DECISION-MAKING, EMOTIONAL WELLNESS, AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP.EVERY MOMENT AT THE CLUB IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOUTH BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEMSELVES AND OTHERS,BUT INCREASED INTENTIONALITY AROUND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT INCREASES THE IMPACT OF THE CLUB EXPERIENCE. ESSENTIAL SKILLS ARE BUILT IN OUR YOUTH THROUGH EVIDENCE BASED AND INFORMED CURRICULUMS AS WELL AS OUR WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.ACADEMIC SUCCESS: ACADEMIC SUCCESS HAS LONG BEEN A PRIORITY OUTCOME OF BGCGM BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CONTINUES TO BE A CRITICAL MILESTONE ON THE PATH TOWARD GREATER SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING IN ADULTHOOD. YOUTH WHO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE BETTER FINANCIAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR THEMSELVES, MAKE GREATER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.S. ECONOMY THROUGH INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SPENDING, AND INCUR FEWER HEALTH CARE AND JUDICIAL COSTS. IN ADDITION, YOUTH PROGRAM QUALITY HAS BEEN DIRECTLY LINKED TO ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. WHILE MANY VARIABLES INFLUENCE A YOUNG PERSON'S LIKELIHOOD OF GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, TWO CRITICAL AREAS OF FOCUS FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS ARE A LOVE OF LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH EDUCATION. WHEN YOUTH LOVE TO LEARN AND FEEL TRULY ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN EDUCATION, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE ACADEMIC SUCCESS. OUR GOAL IS TO NOT ONLY ENSURE THAT YOUTH WILL GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH ACADEMIC CONTENT, BUT ALSO TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO FALL IN LOVE WITH LEARNING AND CONNECT THEIR PASSIONS TO A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. BGCGM'S MARVAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM PROVIDES ACADEMIC SUPPORT AFTER SCHOOL AT THE CLUBS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LITERACY AND MATH CURRICULUM THAT SUPPORT LEARNING AND ADVANCEMENT TOWARD DEVELOPMENT A LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR READING AS WELL AS DEVELOPING SKILLS IN BOTH LITERACY AND MATH. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) AS WELL. THE MILWAUKEE PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS PROGRAM IS AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS, MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND CITY YEAR MILWAUKEE. THIS INITIATIVE IS PROVIDING NECESSARY SUPPORT TO FOUR MPS SCHOOLS: ALEXANDER MITCHELL INTEGRATED ARTS SCHOOL (K-8TH GRADE), ROGERS STREET ACADEMY (K-8TH GRADE), GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER ACADEMY (K-8TH GRADE), AND CLARKE STREET ELEMENTARY. THROUGH THIS COLLABORATIVEEFFORT, BGCGM HAS ADDED AND ALIGNED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN MATH, READING, ATTENDANCE, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND AFTER-SCHOOL THROUGH SMALL GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE INTERVENTIONS.CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP: WHEN YOUTH LEARN THE VALUE OF GIVING BACK THROUGH SERVICE, THEY DEVELOP PRIDE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. EXPOSURE TO MEANINGFUL SERVICE-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOUTH BUILD VALUABLE SKILLS, SUCH AS COMMUNICATION, PROBLEM SOLVING AND GOAL SETTING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR PEERS AND CARING ADULTS, PREPARES THEM TO BE LEADERS WHO CREATE MEANINGFUL CHANGE WITHIN THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. CHARACTER & EADERSHIP PROGRAMS AT BGCGM HELP YOUTH BECOME RESPONSIBLE, CARING CITIZENS AND ACQUIRE SKILLS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ALSO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND GAIN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLANNING, DECISION-MAKING, CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR CLUB AND COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATING OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE. THE PROGRAMS OFFERED TO YOUTH IN OUR CLUBS ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES, LEARN ABOUT FUNDRAISING AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE.HEALTH & WELLNESS: BGCGM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND TOOLS SUPPORT THE EMOTIONAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF CLUB MEMBERS, STAFF AND FAMILIES. PROGRAMS PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES THROUGH SPORTS AND RECREATION PROGRAMMING, MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES, AND HELP KIDS AND TEENS DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO MANAGE STRONG EMOTIONS. THE H.E.A.R.T. INITIATIVE WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE FROM GRADE 5 12 TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS FOR MAKING
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
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 2024.
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 August 1942.
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.
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