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Wisconsin Community Services Inc

EIN 39-0808464 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WISCONSIN COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY, PROVIDING INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY.

Income
$54.6 million
Spending
$54.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
761
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$227,684, 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (8)
  1. $20.7 million spent. SPECIALIZED SERVICES: SPECIALIZED SERVICES PROVIDES PROGRAMS SERVING CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY, BY PROVIDING YEAR-ROUND, PERSON-CENTERED CARE, AND SERVICES TO MEET THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY NEEDS OF THOSE SERVED. SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED BY CARE COORDINATORS, PEER SPECIALISTS, HOUSING NAVIGATORS, CLINICIANS PROVIDING OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CLINICAL SERVICES, AND 24-HOUR CARE FOR CHILDREN (RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND YOUTH CRISIS STABILIZATION FACILITY) AND ADULTS (SUPPORTED HOUSING). PRIMARY PROGRAMS FOR THE YEAR WERE PROVIDED IN 4 SERVICE AREAS: YOUTH AND ADULT 24-HOUR CARE, CARE COORDINATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, PEER SPECIALIST PROGRAMS, AND TREATMENT FOSTER CARE. APPROXIMATELY 4,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED BY THE 21 PROGRAMS UNDER SPECIALIZED SERVICES.
  2. $13.0 million spent. ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES: THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AREA HAS PROGRAMS THAT WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL ADULTS AND FAMILIES, PROVIDING SERVICES THAT FOCUS ON TREATMENT FOR PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOUSING, AND OVERALL CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE COMMUNITY. ADULTS AND FAMILIES ARE SERVED BY THREE MAIN SERVICE AREAS: COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS (CBMHP), FORENSICS SERVICES AND COMMUNITY BASED RECOVERY PROGRAMS. IN TOTAL, THE 10 PROGRAMS WITHIN THE ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM AREA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 2,000 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES DURING THE YEAR.
  3. $5.3 million spent. COURT SERVICES: COURT SERVICES PROVIDES SERVICES TO BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS AT RISK OF, OR INVOLVED WITH, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND GUIDANCE THROUGH PRETRIAL AND POST-CONVICTION SUPERVISION, MONITORING AND TREATMENT SERVICES. SERVICES PRIMARILY INVOLVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION SERVICES, PROVIDED WITH VARYING LEVELS OF INTENSITY. SOME SERVICES MAY REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS SERVED TO BE ELECTRONICALLY MONITORED OR TO SUBMIT TO DRUG TESTING, WHICH ARE ADDITIONAL SERVICES OFFERED UNDER THE COURT SERVICES UMBRELLA. SEVERAL PROGRAMS HAVE STAFF ON-CALL 24/7/365 FOR THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED. THE 21 COURT SERVICES PROGRAMS OPERATED IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, INCLUDING MILWAUKEE, WAUKESHA, JEFFERSON, KENOSHA, OZAUKEE, WASHINGTON, AND MANITOWOC COUNTY. MOST OF THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE COUNTY WHERE THE SERVICES TAKE PLACE. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 5,000 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR.
  4. $4.1 million spent. RESIDENTIAL RE-ENTRY SERVICES
  5. $2.5 million spent. YOUTH SERVICES
  6. $965,461 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
  7. $603,031 spent. COMMUNITY BUILDING MILWAUKEE
  8. $519,281 spent. TRAINING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

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 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 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 June 1951.

    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.