Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Positive Alternatives Inc

EIN 39-1297249 · Menomonie, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF FAMILY AND STRENGTH BASED SERVICES, POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES STRIVES TO EQUIP AT-RISK YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND DEVELOPMENT SKILLS NEEDED TO FLOURISH.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
167
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$133,069, 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% 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 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (2)
  1. $4.0 million spent. GROUP HOMES:THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES SIX GROUP HOMES THAT ARE CERTIFIED AS QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS (QRTP); POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES-AMERY, POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES-MENOMONIE, POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES-RIVER FALLS, POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES-WISCONSIN RAPIDS, POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES-MARATHON COUNTY, AND POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES-WINNEBAGO COUNTY ARE EACH LICENSED BY THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES UNDER WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE DCF 57. THE HOMES PROVIDE STRUCTURE, SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO YOUTH. EACH HOME OFFERS LONG TERM, SHORT TERM, TEMPORARY SHELTER, NON-SECURE 72-HOUR HOLDS, RESPITE, AND CRISIS PLACEMENTS. THE GROUP HOMES OFFER 24-HOUR AWAKE SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT TO YOUTH AGES 12-21. IN MID-SEPTEMBER 2024, THE WINNEBAGO COUNTY GROUP HOME OPENED TO SERVE YOUTH FROM THAT COUNTY. IN 2024, MENOMONIE SERVED 20 YOUTH, AMERY SERVED 17 YOUTH, RIVER FALLS SERVED 17 YOUTH, WISCONSIN RAPIDS SERVED 21 YOUTH, MARATHON COUNTY SERVED 23, AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY SERVED 3. YOUTH FROM THIRTY-THREE DIFFERENT WISCONSIN COUNTIES WERE SERVED IN 2024.
  2. $345,617 spent. COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES WORKS WITH YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS AND TO PREVENT OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES FUNDING TO ASSIST IN STABILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND AODA IN THE HOME AND SCHOOL. CASE MANAGERS ARE TRAINED IN THE USE OF MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND USE THESE SKILLS TO HELP THE YOUTH AND THE FAMILY TO REACH THEIR GOALS. COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES PROVIDES INHOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROVIDE YOUTH WITH TOOLS FOR SUCCESS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM'S DAY SUPERVISION (1 CLIENTS SERVED IN 2024) WITH THE DAY SUPERVISION PROGRAM CLOSING IN EARLY 2024 AS PLANNED, MENTORING (20 CLIENTS SERVED IN 2024), AND SUPERVISED VISITATION (24 CLIENTS SERVED IN 2024).

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 June 1980.

    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.