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Urban League of Greater Madison Inc

EIN 39-1098146 · Fitchburg, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON IS TO ENSURE THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE EDUCATED, EMPLOYED AND EMPOWERED TO LIVE WELL, ADVANCE PROFESSIONALLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMON GOOD IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
33.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
73
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$263,184, president/ceo

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: 90 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (4)
  1. $2.3 million spent. SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT: THE URBAN LEAGUE BLACK BUSINESS HUB & BLACK BUSINESS HUB ACCELERATOR PROGRAM (THE HUB) OPENED ITS NEW FACILITY AND SCALED UP OPERATIONS SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2024. THE HUB IS A TRANSFORMATIVE SPACE AND ECOSYSTEM DESIGNED TO INCUBATE, ACCELERATE, AND NETWORK SMALL BUSINESSES AND EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS AND SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY. THE HUB SPANS 80,000SQUARE FEET AND OFFERS A DYNAMIC MIX OF RETAIL STOREFRONTS, CO-WORKING SPACES, OFFICES, A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND EDUCATION SPACES WITH MANY OF THE SPACES RENTED AT BELOW-MARKET RATES TO EMERGING BUSINESSES. MORE THAN A BUILDING, IT IS A PLACE-BASED ECOSYSTEM THAT PROVIDES TRAINING, COACHING, OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO CAPITAL, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY NETWORKING. THE HUB HOSTED OVER 600 MEETINGS, CLASSES, NETWORKING EVENTS, FORUMS, POP-UP MARKETS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. WE PROVIDED TRAINING, COACHING, MENTORING, OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND/OR ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR 200 UNDERSERVED SMALL BUSINESSES AND ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS. WE OPENED THE HUB ENTREPRENEURSHIP CO-WORKING CENTER WHICH PROVIDED DEEPLY DISCOUNTED OFFICES, CUBICLES, AND FLEX MEMBERSHIPS TO 21 EMERGING BUSINESSES. THE HUB OPERATED POP-UP MARKETS TWICE WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WITH 20 DIFFERENT VENDORS PARTICIPATING AND ABLE TO SELL THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES. WE BEGAN THE BUILDOUT OF 5 NEW SPACES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES GEARING UP TO LAUNCH OR EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS INCLUDING A BARBERSHOP, PODCASTER, COFFEE SHOP, AND OTHERS. WE OPENED UP THE OPERATION OF THE HUB ENTREPRENEURSHIP KITCHEN WITH 3 EMERGING FOOD BUSINESSES AS OUR PILOT GROUP OF TESTERS FOR THE SPACE. WE DISTRIBUTED $518,561.22 IN GRANTS TO 21 EMERGING BUSINESSES BRINGING OUR GRANT AND LOAN TOTAL TO ALMOST $1.2 MILLION SINCE 2022.
  2. $974,488 spent. LEARN - OUR EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK IS COMPRISED OF PROGRAMS, ADVOCACY, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT CHILDREN IN GREATER MADISON SECURE THE EDUCATION NECESSARY TO THRIVE IN A TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY DEFINED BY CREATIVITY, SERVICE, AND INNOVATION. THE PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENT OF OUR FRAMEWORK INCLUDES INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE AND SUPPORT STUDENTS' CORE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM. IN PARTICULAR, THESE INITIATIVES FOCUS ON SERVING SECONDARY SCHOOL AGE YOUTH THROUGH OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, ACADEMIC TUTORING/COACHING PROGRAMS, CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION PROGRAMS, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. OUR 2024 PROGRAMS INCLUDED: THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC TUTORING PROGRAM (772 YOUTH SERVED); THE 21ST CENTURY CAREERS COLLEGE, CAREER, AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS PROGRAM (188 YOUTH SERVED); THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY YOUTH EVENTS (297 YOUTH SERVED); STEAM CAMP - SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH SUMMER CAMP (30 YOUTH SERVED); MY BROTHER'S KEEPER SPRING BREAK GAMING & CODING DAY (50 YOUTH).
  3. $943,037 spent. WORK - OUR CURRENT ARRAY OF ADULT CAREER PATHWAY TRAINING AND COACHING SERVICES INCLUDES INDIVIDUALIZED EMPLOYMENT PLANNING AND CAREER ADVISING; INDIVIDUALIZED FOUNDATIONAL JOB PREPARATION TRAINING; SHORT-TERM, EMPLOYER-FOCUSED, CAREER-PATHWAY TRAINING ACADEMIES IN HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION, HEALTHCARE, CONSTRUCTION TRADES, BIOTECHNOLOGY, K-12 EDUCATION, FINANCE AND BANKING, AND OTHER INDUSTRIES AS NEEDED; SPECIAL SUPPORT AND FATHERHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING FOR NON-CUSTODIAL FATHERS; INDIVIDUALIZED AND GROUP JOB SEARCH AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE: JOB RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT COACHING AND CASE MANAGEMENT; ENGAGEMENT OF EMPLOYERS THROUGH BOTH A LOCAL AND NATIONAL NETWORK; FEATURED EMPLOYER SEMINARS; AND LEADERSHIP ON REGION-WIDE WORKFORCE DIVERSITY INITIATIVES. IN 2024, 409 ADULT JOB SEEKERS RECEIVED CAREER COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, JOB COACHING, AND/OR JOB RETENTION SERVICES. AT LEAST 139 UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED JOB SEEKERS WERE PLACED INTO NEW OR BETTER JOBS, 92% WERE PLACED IN JOBS EARNING $15 OR MORE PER HOUR AND 66% WERE PLACED IN JOBS PAYING $18 OR MORE PER HOUR, 78% INCREASED THEIR HOURLY WAGES BY 20% OR MORE, AND 40% OF THOSE WHO DID NOT PREVIOUSLY HAVE A JOB WITH HEALTHCARE BENEFITS SECURED A JOB WITH BENEFITS. AN ADDITIONAL 131 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN MY BROTHER'S KEEPER PROGRAMMING INCLUDING FREE LEGAL CLINICS TO HELP WITH ARREST AND CONVECTION RECORD EXPUNGEMENTS, PARDONS, AND CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES.
  4. $506,408 spent. FINANCIAL EDUCATION & HOMEOWNERSHIP: OUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND WEALTH BUILDING PROGRAMS ENCOMPASS TWO KEY AREAS OF PROGRAMMING: FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HOMEBUYER EDUCATION AND SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING. ULGM PROVIDED HUD-CERTIFIED GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL LITERACY, PRE-PURCHASE HOMEBUYER EDUCATION, AND POST-PURCHASE HOMEOWNER EDUCATION TO 134 LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS. THE URBAN LEAGUE ALSO ACQUIRED, RENOVATED, AND RE-SOLD 16 SINGLE FAMILIES HOMES TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. ULGM IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AT LEAST 7 YEARS OF TRAINING AND COACHING TO HELP THESE NEW HOMEOWNERS BE SUCCESSFUL.

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 1968.

    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.