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Wisconsin Judicare Incorporated

EIN 39-1170880 · Wausau, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WISCONSIN JUDICARE'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE CANNOT AFFORD IT.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
46
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$150,272, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 July 31, 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 (2)
  1. $2.3 million spent. THE MISSION OF WISCONSIN JUDICARE, INC. DBA JUDICARE LEGAL AID [JLA] IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE CANNOT AFFORD IT. JLA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES. JLA HAS STAFF THAT PROVIDE DIRECT REPRESENTATION, AS WELL AS EDUCATION FOR CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW. STAFF MEMBERS ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE BAR AND THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS TO ADDRESS THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR SERVICE POPULATION.DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, JLA PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES IN 2,678 CASES IN VARIOUS SUBJECTS. THE BREAKDOWN OF THOSE SUBJECTS IS BELOW. TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, JLA USED THE SERVICES...(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OF NINETEEN PAID STAFF ATTORNEYS, SIX LEGAL ADVOCATES, FOUR PARALEGALS AND 80 PRIVATE ATTORNEYS AND TRIBAL LAY ADVOCATES. JLA'S WORK BENEFITS THE PUBLIC IN MANY WAYS. CASES MOVE MORE QUICKLY AND MORE EFFICIENTLY THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM WHEN AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTS A PARTY TO THE CASE. BY PROVIDING ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT PARTIES, JLA EMPOWERS OUR LOW-INCOME CLIENTS TO ACHIEVE FAIRER OUTCOMES AND NAVIGATE AN INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED LEGAL SYSTEM. JLA ALSO PLAYS A PART SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AS THEY FACE SAFETY CONCERNS, LEAVING AN ABUSIVE SPOUSE, OR BEING THE VICTIM IN A CRIMINAL CASE. THROUGH JLA'S LEGAL ASSISTANCE, VICTIMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS TO HELP THEM TOWARD A FUTURE OF SAFETY, STABILITY, AND HEALING. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, JLA ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FORCED TO ENGAGE WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, AND FREE MEDIATION TO RESOLVE EVICTION, DEBT, AND OTHER SMALL CLAIMS CASES OUTSIDE OF THE COURT SYSTEM. THESE PROGRAMS INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LEGAL QUESTIONS, COURT FORMS, AND FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL INVOLVED. THESE PROGRAMS HELP REDUCE UNJUST OUTCOMES IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM THAT ARE FUELED BY INEQUITY IN ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATION. FINALLY, AS JLA IS A RECIPIENT OF FEDERAL LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION FUNDS, THERE IS NO LONGER A PROHIBITION FROM REQUESTING AND RECEIVING ATTORNEY FEE AWARDS. THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION REGULATIONS REGARDING THIS REQUIREMENT WERE MODIFIED IN DECEMBER 2009. JLA DOES NOT COLLECT FEES FOR SERVICES FROM CLIENTS.CASE SUMMARY BY SUBJECT:*1 ADOPTION*12 ADULT GUARDIANSHIP/CONSERVATORSHIP*686 ADVANCED DIRECTIVES/POWERS OF ATTORNEY*178 BANKRUPTCY/DEBTOR RELIEF*51 COLLECT/REPOSSESSION/DEFENSE/GARNISHMENT*17 CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT*292 CUSTODY/VISITATION*1 DELINQUENT*1 DISCIPLINE (INCLUDING EXPULSION AND SUSPENSION)*279 DIVORCE/SEP./ANNUL.*50 DOMESTIC ABUSE*40 EMPLOYEE RIGHTS*4 EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION*86 FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING*12 FOOD STAMPS*1 HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED CARE*24 HOMEOWNERSHIP/REAL PROPERTY (NOT FORECLOSURE)*4 HOUSING DISCRIMINATION*8 INDIAN/TRIBAL LAW*13 LICENSES (DRIVERS, OCCUPATIONAL, AND OTHERS)*3 LOANS/INSTALLMENT PURCHASES (NOT COLLECTIONS)*2 LONG TERM HEALTH CARE FACILITIES*9 MEDICAID*19 MINOR GUARDIANSHIP/CONSERVATORSHIP*40 MOBILE HOMES*26 MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES (NOT PREDATORY LENDING/PRACTICES)*9 NEGLECTED/ABUSED/DEPENDENT*2 OTHER CONSUMER/FINANCE*1 OTHER EDUCATION*2 OTHER EMPLOYMENT*1 OTHER FAMILY*2 OTHER HEALTH*6 OTHER HOUSING*5 OTHER INCOME MAINTENANCE*24 OTHER INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS*3 OTHER JUVENILE*8 PARDONS*6 PARENTAL RIGHTS TERMINATION*11 PATERNITY*1 PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE*296 PRIVATE LANDLORD/TENANT*44 PUBLIC HOUSING*2 PUBLIC UTILITIES*4 SOCIAL SECURITY (NOT SSDI)*1 SPECIAL EDUCATION/LEARNING DISABILITIES*26 SSDI*60 SSI*1 STATE AND LOCAL INCOME MAINTENANCE*3 SUPPORT*1 TAXES (NOT EITC)*1 TORTS*41 UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION*10 WAGE CLAIMS AND OTHER FLSA ISSUES*248 WILLS AND ESTATES
  2. $574,829 spent. WISCONSIN JUDICARE'S INDIAN LAW OFFICE PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE, REFERRALS, AND EXTENDED REPRESENTATION TO FINANCIALLY-ELIGIBLE NATIVE AMERICANS ENROLLED IN ONE OF THE ELEVEN FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES IN WISCONSIN AND WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR LEGAL SERVICES IN CIVIL (NON-CRIMINAL) AND TRIBAL (NON-CRIMINAL AND CRIMINAL) CASES. DURING THE YEAR, WISCONSIN JUDICARE'S INDIAN LAW OFFICE HANDLED 1,029 CASES, OF WHICH 987 CASES WERE CLOSED WITH 21 OF THE CASES LITIGATED IN COURT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 January 1973.

    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.