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Coa Youth & Family Centers Inc

EIN 39-0806339 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHILDREN'S OUTING ASSOCIATION/COA YOUTH & FAMILY CENTERS (COA) HELPS MILWAUKEE CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES REACH THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF EDUCATIONAL RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH ITS RIVERWEST AND GOLDIN COMMUNITY CENTERS, SIX COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS AND AT COA'S RURAL CAMP FACILITY. AS A MULTICULTURAL AGENCY, COA VALUES DIVERSITY AND COOPERATION AND PROMOTES PERSONAL GROWTH AND POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 29%
Employees
222
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$74,059, executive director (end 2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 25

    20 of 20 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 March 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 (4)
  1. $2.2 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT: COA YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTERS OFFERS NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS THROUGH 12 YEARS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE MULTICULTURAL AND NONSECTARIAN, AND FEES ARE DETERMINED BASED ON FAMILY INCOME. ALL PROGRAMS PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION, CARE, AND NURTURING, FOCUSING ON A CHILD'S HEALTHY PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN 2015 COA OPENED ANOTHER EARLY CHILD EDUCATION CENTER AT COA'S GOLDIN CENTER.
  2. $1.3 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: COA'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY INVOLVES A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR AREA YOUTH AGES 4 THROUGH 17 (18 IF STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL). ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AFTER-SCHOOL, SUMMER AND WEEKEND PROGRAMMING; SPECIAL GROUPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, PRETEENS AND TEENS; ATHLETICS AND FIELD TRIPS; AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING COMPUTERS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, CREATIVE WRITING, HOMEWORK HELP AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES. COA'S GOLDIN SUMMER DAY CAMPS OFFER BOYS AND GIRLS AGE 6 THROUGH 12 SUMMER DAY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GAMES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, FIELD TRIPS AND MUCH MORE. PROGRAMS OPERATE AT COA'S RIVERWEST CENTER AND GOLDIN CENTER; AT COA'S COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS LOCATED AT OW HOLMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AUER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LINCOLN CENTER OF THE ARTS, HOPKINS-LLOYD COMMUNITY SCHOOL, DOERFLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND WESTSIDE ACADEMY.
  3. $919,475 spent. FAMILY CENTERED PROGRAMS: COA PROVIDES FAMILY PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE ROSE AND HARRY SAMSON FAMILY CENTER (LOCATED AT COA'S RIVERWEST CENTER), AND THE ETHEL NUTIS GILL FAMILY CENTER (AT COA'S GOLDIN CENTER). THESE SERVICES SEEK TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES THROUGH PARENTING EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS, PEER DISCUSSION GROUPS AND FAMILY-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES. PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (AGES 2 THROUGH 5) MAY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN COA'S HOME INSTRUCTION FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL YOUNGSTERS (HIPPY), BASED ON A NATIONAL MODEL WHICH FOCUSES ON HELPING PARENTS TO BECOME THEIR CHILDREN'S PRIMARY TEACHERS. COA'S FAMILY-CENTERED PROGRAMS ARE INTEGRATED INTO OTHER PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDING EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
  4. $1.5 million spent. INCLUDE: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: COA YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTERS IS A VALUABLE PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. COA IS COMMITTED TO THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. COA ALSO PARTNERS WITH MANY OTHER AGENCIES SUCH AS THE HUNGER TASK FORCE AND MCFI TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THE DOMINICAN CENTER TO PROVIDE ADULT EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH ITS LONG-TERM LEASE WITH THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, COA OPERATES KILBOURN AND KADISH PARKS AND PROVIDES RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. THROUGH ITS LEASE WITH MILWAUKEE COUNTY, COA PROVIDES RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MOODY PARK, ADJACENT TO COA'S GOLDIN CENTER. CAMPING/CONFERENCE CENTER: AS PART OF COA'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, EACH SUMMER COA OPERATES CAMPING PROGRAMS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION. BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 8 THROUGH 15 ATTEND COA'S CAMP HELEN BRACHMAN, LOCATED ON 206 ACRES IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN NEAR STEVEN'S POINT. SESSIONS INCLUDE WATER AND FIELD SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MUSIC, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, TEAM BUILDING, LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND OVERNIGHT CAMP OUTS. COA'S IN-CITY GOLDIN SUMMER DAY CAMPS OFFERS BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 6 THROUGH 12 SUMMER DAY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GAMES, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND MUCH MORE. FEES ARE BASED ON FAMILY INCOME. IN ADDITION TO SUMMER CAMPS, COA OFFERS YEAR-ROUND YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES, FAMILY CAMPS AND WINTER CAMPS. WHEN COA PROGRAMS ARE NOT IN SESSION, THE CAMP RETREAT CENTER IS RENTED TO GROUPS FOR RETREATS, CONFERENCES, STAFF TRAININGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 April 1942.

    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.