Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE WORK TO MITIGATE THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF POVERTY IN SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN, BUILDING RESILIENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, AND BY COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS.
- Income
- $16.7 million
- Spending
- $15.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 179
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $134,081, 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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (6)
- $4.3 million spent. CHILD EDUCATION -IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES, PROVIDES EXPECTANT PARENTS AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH FIVE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION, HEALTH AND NUTRITION SERVICES, PARENT AND PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS, AND FAMILY SUPPORT, RESOURCE AND REFERRAL IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS, POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. PARENT INVOLVEMENT IS ESSENTIAL IN ALL ASPECTS OF THESE PROGRAMS. THE FAMILY'S SUCCESS IN THE PROGRAM IS DEPENDENT UPON PARENT PARTICIPATION. IN 2024, 395 CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED, 501 CHILDREN COMPLETED AGE-APPROPRIATE HEALTH EXAMS, 101 CHILDREN COMPLETED DENTAL EXAMS AND 395 CHILDREN WERE SCREENED FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS.
- $3.1 million spent. HEALTH PROGRAMS - IN 2024, 400 PEOPLE RECEIVED FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES; 190 RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS; 13 RECEIVED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING.
- $2.3 million spent. HOUSING AND HOUSING REHABILITATION
- $2.0 million spent. WEATHERIZATION/ENERGY ASSISTANCE -PROVIDES WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND CHILDREN, BY IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THEIR HOMES WHILE ENSURING THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE INSULATING ATTICS AND SIDEWALLS TO REDUCE AIR LEAKAGE, INSULATING ORREPLACING WATER HEATERS, REPAIRING OR REPLACING FURNACES, REPLACING REFRIGERATORS, INSTALLING ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING, AND PERFORMING HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS. IN 2024, 287 HOUSEHOLDS WERE WEATHERIZED AND 99 HOUSEHOLDS SERVED WITH HOME REPAIR INCLUDING EMERGENCY FURNACES.
- $1.3 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES -COMMUNITY SERVICES MATCHES INCOME-QUALIFYING PEOPLE WITH AVAILABLE SERVICES; PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD AND ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS AND NEAR HOMELESS; ASSURES ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED. IN 2024, 7402 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS.
- $413,542 spent. SENIOR RENTAL
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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