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Tops Club Inc

EIN 39-0866681 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE TOPS MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE AND EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO HELP AND SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS AS THEY TAKE OFF AND KEEP OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY. OUR VISION IS TO BE THE BEST WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPORT CHOICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFE.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
25
Volunteers
15,000
Highest pay
$152,645, 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

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 204% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 7 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 (3)
  1. $2.6 million spent. MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES: TOPS MEMBERS MEET WEEKLY IN THOUSANDS OF LOCAL WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPORT CHAPTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA TO WEIGH-IN, LEARN WAYS TO BECOME HEALTHIER (THROUGH PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED PROGRAMS ABOUT NUTRITION, PROPER PORTION SIZES, FITNESS, SELF-CARE, AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION) AND TO SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE ONE ANOTHER AS THEY MAKE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES TOGETHER. TOPS' GOAL IS TO ENSURE PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR HEALTHIEST AT EVERY WEIGHT. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SEVERAL MEMBER PROGRAMS SUCH AS RETREATS, INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION DAY, AND RECOGNITION AWARDS.
  2. $303,748 spent. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES: AS AN APPROVED PROVIDER FOR SUPPORT SERVICES FUNDED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, TOPS CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS JOINT EFFORTS WITH LOCAL AND STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO REACH UNDERSERVED, LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES THROUGH WISEWOMAN AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS. TOPS IS COOPERATING WITH AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER INVESTIGATING THE EFFICACY OF OUR PROGRAM IN A TARGETED STUDY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS FUNDED OVER A MULTI-YEAR GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. TOPS CONTINUES ITS DECADES-LONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITY REASEARCHERS INVESTIGATING THE DISEASE OF OBESITY AND ITS COMORBIDITIES.
  3. $410,235 spent. FIELD STAFF ACTIVITIES: TOPS HAS NEARLY 400 FIELD STAFF, ALL OF WHOM ARE MEMBERS AND MANY OF WHOM ARE VOLUNTEERS. TOPS HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THESE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICE TO CHAPTERS IN THEIR LOCAL AREAS. THEY ORGANIZE VOLUNTEER TRAINING SESSIONS FOR LEADERS AND CHAPTER OFFICERS TO HELP THEM CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE THE VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR WEIGHT-LOSS AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EFFORTS. TOPS HEADQUARTERS MAKES AVAILABLE NUMEROUS TOOLS FOR FIELD STAFF SUPPORT, INCLUDING FREE RETREATS, BEST PRACTICES WEBINARS, AND THE LIKE.

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 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? 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1966.

    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.