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Next Door Foundation Inc

EIN 39-1162969 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEXT DOOR SUPPORTS THE INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN BY PARTNERING WITH THEIR FAMILIES FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$23.3 million
Spending
$23.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
286
Volunteers
631
Highest pay
$218,957, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $11.1 million spent. HEAD START: HEAD START IS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5. HEAD START IS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES DEVELOP BEST WHEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE COMBINED WITH SERVICES TO SUPPORT HEALTH, NUTRITION AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS. EACH FAMILY WORKS WITH A PARENT EDUCATOR IN THEIR HOMES OR THROUGH CENTER BASED PROGRAMMING AT NEXT DOOR OR PARTNER SITES. PARENT INVOLVEMENT IS CRITICAL IN THE HEAD START MODEL. PARENTS ARE ENGAGED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR THE PROGRAM THROUGH COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT, ARE EDUCATED ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT STAGES AND CONNECTED WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES. PARENTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH EDUCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL AND CAREER GOALS. HEAD START SERVED 544 CHILDREN DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  2. $7.6 million spent. EARLY HEAD START:EARLY HEAD START IS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PROGRAM WORKING WITH PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO THREE. EARLY HEAD START IS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES DEVELOP BEST WHEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE COMBINED WITH SERVICES TO SUPPORT HEALTH, NUTRITION AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS. EACH FAMILY WORKS WITH A PARENT EDUCATOR IN THEIR HOMES OR THROUGH CENTER BASED PROGRAMMING AT NEXT DOOR OR PARTNER SITES. CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN ON-GOING EDUCATION, GROUP ACTIVITIES, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES TO HELP STRENGTHEN CHILDREN'S SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. EARLY HEAD START SERVED 503 CHILDREN, AND 20 EXPECTANT MOMS, DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  3. $1.1 million spent. CHARTER SCHOOL:THE NEXT DOOR CHARTER SCHOOL PROVIDES FOUR-YEAR-OLD KINDERGARTEN THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CERTIFIED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS PROVIDE A NURTURING AND EDUCATIONAL KINDERGARTEN EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN AT THE CENTER. FOUR YEAR OLDS ATTEND A FULL DAY OF A BLENDED HEAD START AND CHARTER MODEL AND FIVE YEAR OLDS PARTICIPATE IN A FULL DAY OF KINDERGARTEN. NEXT DOOR CHARTER SCHOOL SERVED 125 CHILDREN DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  4. $556,907 spent. OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 February 1972.

    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.