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Wisconsin Communty Action Program Association Incorporated

EIN 39-1209035 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STRENGTHEN AND SERVE COMMUNITY ACTION IN WISCONSIN.

Income
$6.6 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 87%
Employees
10
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$95,412, interim executive director

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: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 73% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    21 of 21 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 (6)
  1. $2.1 million spent. HOUSING: IN RESPONSE TO THE FORECLOSURE RISK EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC, WISCAP PARTNERED WITH THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER TO ESTABLISH THE WISCONSIN HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS (WHH) PROGRAM. THIS STATEWIDE INITIATIVE AIMS TO HELP COVID-IMPACTED HOUSEHOLDS REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES BY PROVIDING SERVICES SUCH AS LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT FORECLOSURE, HUD-CERTIFIED COUNSELING, AND FINANCIAL AID OF UP TO $40,000 FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO ADDRESS COVID-RELATED DELINQUENCIES. SINCE INCEPTION, THIS PROGRAM HAS ENABLED THOUSANDS OF HOMEOWNERS ACROSS ALL WISCONSIN'S COUNTIES TO ACCESS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SUPPORT TO RETAIN THEIR HOMES. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WISCAP MEMBER AGENCIES HAVE ALSO FOCUSED ON HOUSING STABILIZATION EFFORTS THROUGH THE WISCONSIN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WERA).
  2. $1.9 million spent. ASSET DEVELOPMENT: THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON DEVELOPING JOBS, BUSINESSES, AND UPSKILLING WORKERS TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREER GOALS. THE JOB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ALLOWS LOW-INCOME ENTREPRENEURS RECEIVE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO CREATE JOBS BY LAUNCHING NEW BUSINESSES OR EXPANDING EXISTING ONES. THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION GRANT IS A PROGRAM MEANT TO SUPPORT AND CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD INCLUDING TUITION AND SUPPORT COSTS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIELD OF NURSING.
  3. $934,153 spent. TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT: THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF WISCONSIN'S 18 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT-FUNDED AGENCIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. THE TRAINING INITIATIVES STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL, FINANCIAL, AND PROGRAMMATIC ABILITIES OF PARTICIPANTS, ENHANCING THEIR CAPACITY TO PLAN, IMPLEMENT, MANAGE, AND ASSESS PROGRAMS EFFECTIVELY, ALL WITH THE GOAL OF BENEFITING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
  4. $610,220 spent. HEALTH PROGRAMS: THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES AND DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERED WITH WISCAP AND SEVEN OF OUR MEMBER AGENCIES TO ADDRESS VACCINE HESITANCY AND BARRIERS BY INCREASING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE.
  5. $348,435 spent. FOOD SECURITY: IN 2024 WISCAP CONTINUED TO MANAGE LOGISTICS, DATA COLLECTION, AND FOOD ORDERING FOR THE TEFAP NETWORK. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WISCAP HAS OVERSEEN THE ORDERING AND DISTRIBUTION OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF FEDERAL COMMODITIES TO FOOD-INSECURE WISCONSINITES SINCE 1998.
  6. $58,301 spent. CRISIS COUNSELING PROGRAMS

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 July 1974.

    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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