Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Ascend Services Inc

EIN 39-0988532 · Manitowoc, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF ASCEND SERVICES, INC., IS TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH THROUGH COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
18.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
241
Volunteers
21

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 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. PREVOCATIONAL SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRAINING, SKILL BUILDING, ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE PREPARING FOR INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT OR, WHO DO NOT DESIRE TO WORK IN INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT AT THIS TIME. WE RECEIVE REFERRALS AND FUNDING THROUGH LAKELAND CARE, INC., IRIS, COMMUNITY CARE INC., INCLUSA, MY CHOICE, OR THE MANITOWOC COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS ARE CENTERED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES. THESE PLANS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND SUPPORTS PARTICIPANTS NEED TO REACH THEIR IDENTIFIED GOALS. THESE SUPPORT SERVICES ENABLED 93 PARTICIPANTS TO PURSUE VOCATIONAL GOALS WHILE EARNING WAGES.
  2. $549,259 spent. DAY SERVICES OFFERS SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO 108 PARTICIPANTS. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH AND A TRUE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER FUNCTIONAL LIFE SKILLS. WE RECEIVE REFERRALS AND FUNDING THROUGH LAKELAND CARE, INC.,IRIS, COMMUNITY CARE INC., INCLUSA, OR MY CHOICE.INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS ARE CENTERED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES.THESE PLANS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND SUPPORTS PARTICIPANTS NEED TO REACH THEIR IDENTIFIED GOALS. THEY ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH DAILY ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE FUNCTIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT WHILE FOSTERING THE INDIVIDUAL'S SENSE OF BELONGING AND DEVELOPING GOOD, STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
  3. $849,779 spent. COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES CHOOSE, OBTAIN AND RETAIN EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE RECEIVE OUR REFERRALS FROM THE DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR THE INITIAL STAGES OF THE PROGRAM AND WHEN NECESSARY, LONG TERM FUNDING IS FROM LAKELAND CARE, INC., IRIS, COMMUNITY CARE, INCLUSA, OR MY CHOICE. WE SERVED 12 INDIVIDUALS IN 2024 IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PROGRAMMING. WE HELPED 45 PARTICIPANTS OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
  4. $256,200 spent. REST AREA MAINTENANCE - ASCEND SERVICES, INC. HAS A STATE USE CONTRACT WITH THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PROVIDE CLEANING AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FOR THE REST AREA LOCATED ON I-43 NEAR DENMARK, WISCONSIN. AS WITH ANY STATE USE PROGRAM, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE EMPLOYED TO DO AT LEAST 75% OF THE DIRECT LABOR AT THE SITE.

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 May 1962.

    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.