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Forward Service Corporation

EIN 39-1342890 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FORWARD SERVICE CORPORATION'S MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM LIVES BY HELPING INDIVIDUALS REALIZE A LARGER SENSE OF POSSIBILITY ABOUT THE PERSON THEY CAN BECOME.

Income
$34.4 million
Spending
$35.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 94%
Employees
383
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$384,027, ceo

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 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 (2)
  1. $5.1 million spent. YOUTH - FORWARD SERVICE CORPORATION OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP THE SKILLS, ATTITUDES AND COMMITMENT NECESSARY TO FULFILL THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND SUCCEED IN TODAY'S WORLD OF WORK. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR YOUTH INCLUDE: CAREER AWARENESS, CAREER COUNSELING, OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, PAID AND UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCE (SUCH AS INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS AND JOB SHADOWING), RESUME AND COVER LETTER DEVELOPMENT, INTERVIEW PREP, JOB COACHING, WORK-READINESS SKILL DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND JOB PLACEMENT. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE: ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING, ACT PREP, FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION ASSISTANCE, STUDY SKILLS TRAINING, MENTORING, TUTORING, BASIC EDUCATION INSTRUCTION LEADING TO COMPLETION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION PREP AND SUPPORT.
  2. $25.8 million spent. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING - FORWARD SERVICE CORPORATION OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO HELP ADULTS DEVELOP THE SKILLS, ATTITUDES AND COMMITMENT NECESSARY TO FULFILL THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS AND SUCCEED IN TODAY'S WORLD OF WORK. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INCLUDE: CAREER AWARENESS, CAREER COUNSELING, OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, PAID AND UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCE (SUCH AS INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS AND JOB SHADOWING), RESUME AND COVER LETTER DEVELOPMENT, INTERVIEW PREP, JOB COACHING, WORK-READINESS SKILL DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

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 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.