Wisconsin Association for Runaway Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNITED TO PREVENT AND END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN WISCONSIN.
- Income
- $562,841
- Spending
- $573,151
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 93%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $92,839, 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $511,783 spent. A RUNAWAY SERVICE FACILITY PROVIDES TEMPORARY SHELTER AND CRISIS INTERVENTION COUNSELING SERVICES TO RUNAWAYS AND OTHER YOUTH IN CRISIS. CRISIS INTERVENTION COUNSELING IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES. AGENCIES MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE FAMILY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE WITH YOUTH IN COUNSELING.RUNAWAY PROGRAMS ACCEPT SELF-REFERRALS AND VOLUNTARY REFERRALS FROM YOUTH, CAREGIVERS, FAMILIES, AND AGENCIES WITH YOUTH FREE TO DISCONTINUE USE OF SERVICE TO ANY TIME. CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY YOUTH OR PARENT REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE AND AVAILABLE ON A 24 HOUR BASIS. RUNAWAY PROGRAMS ACT TO PREVENT RUNAWAY EPISODES BY FOLLOW UP, AFTERCARE, AND PREVENTATIVE ACTIVITIES. PROGRAMS INVOLVE SERVICE LINKAGES WITH YOUTH SERVING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AGENCIES, INSURING COOPERATIVE RELATIONS AND EFFECTIVE REFERRALS. THE RUNAWAY PROGRAM MUST HAVE PLANS FOR MEETING THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE YOUTH INVOLVING, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, BOTH THE YOUTH AND CAREGIVERS. IN RUNAWAY PROGRAMS, A UNIQUE COUNSELOR-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP IS ESTABLISHED, WHICH STRESSES THE QUALITIES OF TRUST AND CONFIDENTIALITY. YOUTH MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH APPROPRIATE ADVICE AS TO THEIR ALTERNATIVES.JOB TRAINING AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE WISCONSIN TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS AND AMERICORPS PROGRAM.TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS ARE AIMED TO PROVIDE LONGER TERM RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 16-21 FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS. THESE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP YOUTH WHO ARE HOMELESS MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVING. THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM: SAFE, STABLE LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS; BASIC LIFE-SKILL BUILDING, INCLUDING CONSUMER EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION IN BUDGETING, USING CREDIT, HOUSEKEEPING, MENU PLANNING, FOOD PREPARATION, AND PARENTING SKILLS; INTERPERSONAL SKILL BUILDING, INCLUDING ENHANCING YOUNG PEOPLE'S ABILITIES TO ESTABLISH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS AND ADULTS, MAKE DECISIONS, AND MANAGE STRESS; EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS GED PREPARATION, POSTSECONDARY TRAINING, OR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION; ASSISTANCE IN JOB PREPARATION AND ATTAINMENT, SUCH AS CAREER COUNSELING AND JOB PLACEMENT; EDUCATION, INFORMATION, AND COUNSELING TO PREVENT, TREAT, AND REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE; MENTAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING; PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ROUTINE PHYSICALS, HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, AND EMERGENCY TREATMENT.RUNAWAY PROGRAMS HAVE SEEN MAJOR INCREASES IN HOMELESS YOUTH. THESE YOUTH, WHO LIVE ON THE STREET, ARE IN VERY HIGH RISK SITUATIONS, WITH FEW RESOURCES AND VIRTUALLY NO SUPPORT SYSTEM. AS A RESPONSE TO THIS PHENOMENON, THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION FOR RUNAWAY SERVICES, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WISCONSIN BOARD FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, PROVIDES A TEAM OF AMERICORPS MEMBERS TO PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH SERVICES AND MOBILE RESPONSE TEAMS FOR REFERRALS FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER YOUTH SERVING AGENCIES. THE AMERICORPS MEMBERS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOUTH WHO ARE HOMELESS, RUNAWAYS, OR IN CRISIS AND ARE THEREFORE ON THE STREET. MEMBERS FREQUENT AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOUTH CONGREGATE, SUCH AS PARKS, MALLS, CONVENIENCE STORES, ETC. YOUTH ARE PROVIDED WITH HYGIENE PACKETS, FOOD VOUCHERS, TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS, CLOTHES, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, REFERRAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO THE STREET. THE MEMBERS ALSO ARE AVAILABLE TO POLICE AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL, BY RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO REFERRALS. TWENTY-FIVE AMERICORPS MEMBERS ARE PROVIDING THESE OUTREACH SERVICES IN 36 COUNTIES, ENSURING RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND YOUTH IN CRISIS HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM AND ALTERNATIVES TO THE STREET.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1983.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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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