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Wausau Child Care Inc

EIN 39-1178554 · Wausau, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WAUSAU CHILD CARE INC. IS TO STRENGTHEN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAFE, HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING FOR CHILDREN.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
93
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$86,178, executive director

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 77% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $1.8 million spent. WAUSAU CHILD CARE RECEIVES THE MAJORITY OF ITS REVENUE THROUGH PARENT TUITION FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES PROVIDED. WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 140 REGULAR PAYING TUITION CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS IN OUR TWO PRESCHOOL CHILD CARE LOCATIONS. WE ALSO PROVIDE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR APPROXIMATELY 150 REGULAR PAYING TUITION CHILDREN IN THE TWO PROGRAMS AM & PM CARE IN 6 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE ALSO SERVE APPROXIMATELY 60 CHILDREN FOR THE FULL DAY 2025 SCHOOL-AGE SUMMER PROGRAM WITHIN THE WAUSAU SCHOOL DISTRICT.
  2. $207,450 spent. WAUSAU CHILD CARE RECEIVES AND ACCEPTS PARENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR THE WISCONSIN SHARES CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO WANT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO HIGH QUALITY, LICENSED CHILD CARE BUT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. AN ESTIMATED 20 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR ENDING 6/30/25. WE ALSO MAINTAINED OUR NAEYC ACCREDITATION WHICH ENTITLES US TO A 25% INCREASE IN CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES THROUGH THE STATE FOR OUR PRESCHOOL LOCATIONS. WE RENEWED OUR NAEYC ACCREDIATION DECEMBER OF 2024 AT OUR WESTSIDE LOCATION, WHICH NEEDS TO BE RENEWED AT EACH SITE EVERY 5 YEARS.
  3. $137,312 spent. WAUSAU CHILD CARE PARTICIPATES IN OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS. THE DPI CACFP (CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM) PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH GROCERY COSTS IN OUR PRESCHOOL AND SUMMER SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ENABLING US TO SERVE 3 QUALITY MEALS/DAY. THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH THE TWO AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE 4K PROGRAMS IN EACH OF OUR TWO PRESCHOOL CENTERS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE SERVED APPROX. 300 CHILDREN IN 2024-2025.
  4. $38,328 spent. THE SLIDING FEE PROGRAM PROVIDED TUITION ASSISTANCE TO 5 CHILDREN WITHIN WAUSAU CHILD CARE THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE WISCONSIN SHARES BUT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD QUALITY CARE OR FOR THOSE GOING THROUGH A PERSONAL TRAGEDY, DEATH OR ILLNESS. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014 UNITED WAY FUNDS ARE NOW ALLOCATED THROUGH THE MARATHON COUNTY CHILDCARING ORGANIZATION. CHILDCARING RECEIVES THE ANNUAL FUNDING AND DISPERSES IT AMONG YOUNGSTAR RATED (3-5 STAR) FAMILY AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WITHIN MARATHON COUNTY. YOUNGSTAR IS A RATED PROGRAM UTILIZED THROUGH THE STATE OF WISCONSIN W2 CHILDCARE PROGRAM. FAMILIES MUST APPLY EVERY 6 MONTHS AND THE APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AS THE FIRST ONES ARRIVING U.S. MAIL. FAMILIES MAY QUALIFY FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS IF THEIR APPLICATION ISN'T RECEIVED IN TIME FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTH REVIEW.

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 July 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.