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Pathfinders Milwaukee Inc

EIN 39-1185304 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PATHFINDERS BRINGS SAFETY, HOPE AND HEALING TO YOUTH IN CRISIS THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL SERVICES. OUR VISION IS TO PROVIDE A MORE MEANINGFUL VOICE FOR YOUTH IN CRISIS AND ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH ARE SAFE, HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, SUCCESSFUL AND VALUED.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$7.5 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
109
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$200,000, 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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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. $1.4 million spent. CLINICAL SERVICES - OUR TEAM OF CARE COORDINATORS OFFERS SUPPORT TO YOUTH LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DIAGNOSES TO REDUCE NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS, DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS AND TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. USING A HARM-REDUCTION APPROACH, PATHFINDERS ENCOURAGES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, SELF-IDENTIFIED GOALS AND SELF-EMPOWERMENT.
  2. $1.3 million spent. SUPPORTED HOUSING - PATHFINDERS HELPS HOMELESS AND HOUSING INSECURE YOUTH FIND AND SUSTAIN SAFE HOUSING. ONCE HOUSED, WE OFFER SUPPORT TO YOUTH AS THEY WORK TOWARDS STABILITY, MENTAL WELL-BEING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER PERSONAL GOALS. OUR PROGRAMS OFFER SUPPORTED HOUSING SERVICES THAT ARE INDIVIDUALIZED TO THE NEEDS OF EACH YOUNG PERSON. WE PLACE A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SERVING LGBTQ+ IDENTIFIED YOUTH, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS YOUTH, YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, YOUTH WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
  3. $1.2 million spent. YOUTH SHELTER - OUR SHELTER IS OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR AND PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHORT-TERM SHELTER FOR ADOLESCENTS AGED 11-17, PLUS CRISIS COUNSELING SERVICES FOR YOUTH AGED 18-21. WE OPERATE ONE OF ONLY TWO STATE-LICENSED YOUTH SHELTERS SERVING MILWAUKEE, REPRESENTING HALF OF THE AVAILABLE BEDS IN THE CITY FOR YOUTH. DURING AND AFTER THEIR SHELTER STAY, WE OFFER YOUTH INTENSIVE COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT AND BASIC NEEDS SERVICES THAT HELP THEM MAINTAIN SAFETY AND STABILITY.
  4. $1.6 million spent. THE SOUTHEASTERN EDUCATION CENTER IN NOW CLOSED.YOUTH ANTI-VIOLENCE - PATHFINDERS SERVES YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK OF SEXUAL ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING. WE WORK WITH YOUTH WHO FREQUENTLY FIND THEMSELVES AT THE INTERSECTION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING SEXUAL VIOLENCE, OUR ANTI-SEXUAL VIOLENCE TEAM PLACES GREAT EMPHASIS ON RAISING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ENSURING THAT YOUTH WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE HAVE A PLATFORM TO INFLUENCE SYSTEMS CHANGE. IN THIS DEPARTMENT ARE:HAND-IN-HAND - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE GROUP, FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING FOR YOUTH UNDER 18 WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ABUSE. HAND-IN-HAND USES TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEIR INDIVIDUAL REACTIONS TO TRAUMA, WHAT TRIGGERS THESE REACTIONS AND COPING STRATEGIES THAT THEY CAN USE TO HEAL.NEW PATHS - WORKING SPECIFICALLY WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGED 11-25 WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING, NEW PATHS OFFER ACCOMPANIMENT AND ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR YOUTH AS THEY NAVIGATE MEDICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS.DROP-IN CENTER - OUR WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE DROP-IN CENTER MEETS YOUTH'S BASIC NEEDS FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, LAUNDRY, SHOWERS, HYGIENE RESOURCES AND SAFE SOCIAL SPACES. WE ALSO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION SUPPORT, SEXUAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.STREET OUTREACH - WITHIN THE DIC PROGRAM IS STREET OUTREACH. THEY OPERATE MILWAUKEE'S ONLY YOUTH-FOCUSED STREET OUTREACH TEAM. WITH OUR MOBILE RESOURCE CENTER, WE MEET YOUTH WHERE THEY ARE AND SHARE RESOURCES, BASIC NEEDS ITEMS, SEXUAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS EDUCATION, AND REFERRALS TO AID THEIR SAFE EXIT FROM THE STREETS. BY BRINGING OUR RESOURCES TO THE STREETS, WE REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING SERVICES AND BUILD TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

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 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 May 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.

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