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Junior Achievement of Wisconsin Inc

EIN 39-0826295 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN, INC. SERVES A FRANCHISED AREA OF JA USA, INC. THE ORGANIZATION WAS CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING WISCONSIN'S ECONOMIC VITALITY BY PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE CHANGING WORKFORCE WITH EXPERIENCE-BASED ECONOMIC EDUCATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE ORGANIZATION PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURE THROUGH LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT SIMULATE FUTURE SUCCESS AND SUPPORT CAREER DISCOVERY. JA PROGRAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE FINANCIAL LITERACY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND WORK READINESS SKILLS THAT THEY WILL NEED TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS AND SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
20.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
82
Volunteers
6,000
Highest pay
$230,877, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    64 of 64 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $2.8 million spent. ELEMENTARY GRADE PROGRAMS - STUDENTS LEARN THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS AND HOW MAKING SMART FINANCIAL DECISIONS BENEFITS THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. THE SEQUENTIAL ACTIVITIES BUILD ON STUDIES FROM EACH PRECEDING GRADE AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL AND LIFELONG LEARNING. VOLUNTEERS INSPIRE STUDENTS TO THINK ABOUT MAKING CHOICES FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. MIDDLE GRADE PROGRAMS STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT CAREERS AND TOOLS TO FIND A CAREER PATH IN WHICH THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS GUIDE STUDENTS THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSION TO LEARN VITAL LIFE SKILLS, SUCH AS FINANCIAL PLANNING/BUDGETING, DEVELOPING A PERSONAL BRAND, AND MAKING ETHICAL DEICISIONS. HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS - BUILDS ON WHAT STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE INFORMED, INTELLIGENT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND FOSTERS SKILLS THAT WILL BE HIGHLY USEFUL IN THE WORKFORCE. WITH A RANGE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, JA TEACHES CONCEPTS RELATING TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND WORK READINESS. VOLUNTEERS BRING REAL-LIFE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND GUIDANCE INTO THE CLASSROOM AT A TIME THAT REPRESENTS AN ESSENTIAL CROSSROADS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
  2. $1.4 million spent. JA BIZTOWN AND JA FINANCE PARK ARE REALITY-BASED, HANDS-ON LEARNING PROGRAMS. THROUGH DAILY LESSONS, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERACTIVE SIMULATION, STUDENTS DEVELOP A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN AN ECONOMY AND THE PRINCIPLES OF BUDGETING.JA BIZ TOWN TAKES 4TH-6TH GRADE STUDENTS INTO THE WORLD OF BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY OF A COMMUNITY, AS THEY BECOME "ADULTS FOR THE DAY". THEY ASSUME ROLES OF PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND INVESTORS. STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO CREATE AND MANAGE A BUSINESS, AS WELL AS MAKE SMART FINANCIAL DECISIONS TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILY, AND THEIR COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST STUDENTS IN MAKING CHOICES FOR THEIR BUSINESS AND PROVIDE CAREER EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES.JA FINANCE PARK INTRODUCES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PERSONAL FINANCE AND CAREER EXPLORATION. DURING THEIR TIME AT JA FINANCE PARK, STUDENTS RECEIVE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED LIVE SCENARIOS, INCLUDING FAMILY, CAREER, AND FINANCIAL SITUATION. VOLUNTEERS GUIDE THE STUDENTS TO: CREATE AND MAINTAIN A BALANCED FAMILY BUDGET, USE BANKING SERVICES, ARRANGE FOR HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION, AND MAKE INVESTMENT DECISIONS.5,923 STUDENTS IN 229 LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
  3. $112,993 spent. A NEW PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SYSTEMATICALLY RE-ENGINEER HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS WAS LAUNCHED DURING THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR IN TWO MILWAUKEE HIGH SCHOOLS. 3DE BY THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL CASE PARTNERS TO DEVELOP REAL-LIFE BUSINESS CHALLENGES THAT ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM. STUDENTS STUDY THE CASE PROBLEMS, EXAMINING THEM THROUGH THE LENSES OF EACH OF THEIR CORE CLASSROOMS. AT THE END OF EACH SIX-WEEK PERIOD, STUDENT COHORTS PRESENT THEIR SOLUTIONS TO THE CASE PARTNERS.THE ORGANIZATION IS COMPOSED OF 13 AREAS AS SHOWN ON THE SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULE AND INCLUDES THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION (JAWA). JAWA'S PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING RAISING FUNDS TO FURTHER SUCH OBJECTIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.