Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Central Wisconsin Community Action Council Inc

EIN 39-1051779 · Wisc Dells, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, INC. (CWCAC) IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICES WHICH HELP LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE.

Income
$10.6 million
Spending
$9.9 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
71
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$139,428, 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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. $4.5 million spent. WEATHERIZATION/ENERGY ASSISTANCE:WISCONSIN HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WHEAP) - WHEAP PROVIDES A ONE-TIME ANNUAL HEATING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT. HOUSEHOLDS MAY ALSO RECEIVE CRISIS ASSISTANCE FOR ADDITIONAL FUEL, FURNACE REPAIR OR FURNACE REPLACEMENT, AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AND WATER HEATER REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT.WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WX) - AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS AT/OR BELOW 150% POVERTY. WEATHERIZATION PROVIDES ENERGY ASSISTANCE ALONG WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED INCLUDES ATTIC INSULATION, SIDEWALL INSULATION, SMOKE DETECTORS AND AIR SEALING AND CAN INCLUDE FURNACE, AIR CONDITIONING, WATER HEATER AND REFRIGERATOR REPLACEMENT.
  2. $2.1 million spent. FOOD PROGRAMS:CENTRAL WISCONSIN COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, INC. IS THE CONTRACTED EMERGENCY FEEDING ORGANIZATION (EFO) FOR EIGHT COUNTIES. AS EFO, THE ORGANIZATION ORDERS AND DISTRIBUTES USDA FOOD TO THE FOLLOWING FOOD PANTRIES: ADAMS FOOD PANTRY, PORTAGE FOOD PANTRY, RIO AREA FOOD PANTRY, WYOCENA HELPING HANDS FOOD PANTRY, BEAVER DAM COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY, MARQUETTE COUNTY CARE & SHARE FOOD BANK, BARABOO FOOD PANTRY, SAUK PRAIRIE AREA FOOD PANTRY, WISCONSIN DELLS COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY, THE WAUSHARA COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY, THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD PANTRY IN MARSHFIELD, NECEDAH FOOD PANTRY, FOX LAKE FOOD PANTRY AND WAUPUN AREA FOOD PANTRY.
  3. $763,819 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE AND YOUTH PROGRAMS
  4. $747,771 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES
  5. $498,007 spent. HOMELESS AND HOMELESS SHELTER PROGRAMS
  6. $410,662 spent. RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (RHD) ACTIVITIES - DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S GEOGRAPHIC AREA. THE ORGANIZATION HAS THIRTEEN PROJECTS TOTALING 147 APARTMENTS.
  7. $186,028 spent. JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
  8. $82,018 spent. TRANSPORTATION

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 November 1967.

    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.