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Dane County Parent Council Inc

EIN 39-1418945 · Fitchburg, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DANE COUNTY PARENT COUNCIL CHANGES THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

Income
$20.2 million
Spending
$20.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
306
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$175,327, executive director/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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% 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. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (5)
  1. $14.5 million spent. CHILD EDUCATION:HEAD START IS A COMPREHENSIVE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES THAT RESULT IN CHILDREN BEING READY FOR SUCCESS IN BOTH SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. THESE COMPONENTS INCLUDE CHILD HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION, EDUCATION AND SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH DIAGNOSED DISABILITIES, PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. THE GOAL OF THE HEAD START PROGRAM IS SOCIAL COMPETENCE AS THE PRIMARY FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOL READINESS. HEAD START PERFORMANCE STANDARDS DEFINE THE PROGRAM REGULATIONS AND COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM. HEAD START HAS BEEN A LEADER IN EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE LOCAL PROGRAM.DANE COUNTY PARENT COUNCIL, INC. (DCPC) IS FUNDED TO SERVE 568 CHILDREN IN HEAD START. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED VIA HOME BASED, PART DAY CENTER BASED, AND FULL DAY CENTER BASED OPTIONS. IN ADDITION TO HEAD START PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, CENTER BASED PROGRAMS MUST ALSO MEET STATE LICENSING AND CITY ACCREDITATION STANDARDS. THE FULL DAY PROGRAM OPTION SERVES EXCLUSIVELY WORKING FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR A CHILD CARE SUBSIDY.DCPC IS ALSO A COMMUNITY PROVIDER OF 4K SERVICES IN THE MADISON, DEFOREST, SUN PRAIRIE, MONROE, AND VERONA SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ALMOST ALL OF THE FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HEAD START ARE ALSO ENROLLED IN 4K.FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM (EHS) BEGAN IN RESPONSE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS CLEAR, FROM THE RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH, THAT THE EARLIER EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION OCCURS THE BETTER THE CHANCES A CHILD WILL HAVE FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. DCPC BEGAN OFFERING EHS PROGRAM SERVICES IN 1999. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM REGULATIONS ARE ALSO DEFINED BY THE HEAD START PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. HOWEVER, WHILE HEAD START IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN, THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF EARLY HEAD START IS SUPPORTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP. DCPC IS FUNDED TO SERVE 188 EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM OFFERS BOTH HOME BASED AND CENTER BASED PROGRAM OPTIONS.THE GREEN COUNTY EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM SERVES 20 CHILDREN THROUGH THE FAMILY FOUNDATIONS HOME VISITATION (FFHV) GRANT. THE FFHV PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY A FEDERAL GRANT AWARDED TO THE STATES AND DESIGNED TO EXPAND HOME VISITATION SERVICES THROUGH EVIDENCE BASED MODELS. CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE GREEN COUNTY FFHV PROGRAM RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE EARLY HEAD START HOME VISITATION PROGRAM. THE FFHV GRANT ALSO HAS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ABOVE AND BEYOND HEAD START PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. GREEN COUNTY FFHV WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN MIHOPE, WHICH IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH PROGRAM DESIGNED TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOME VISITATION PROGRAM MODELS.
  2. $2.6 million spent. CHILD CARE ACTIVITIES:DCPC SPONSORS CHILD CARE PROGRAMS IN FIVE LOCATIONS LICENSED TO SERVE 241 CHILDREN. MANY ARE IN RESPONSE TO THE CHILD CARE NEEDS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES, OTHERS RESPOND TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR CHILD CARE. ALL CITY INFANT/TODDLER PROGRAMS MUST MEET STATE CHILD CARE LICENSING AND CITY ACCREDITATION STANDARDS.THE SATELLITE PROGRAM PROMOTES QUALITY FAMILY CHILD CARE BY PROVIDING CITY OF MADISON ACCREDITATION SERVICES FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS IN THE GREATER MADISON AREA. SATELLITE WORKS WITH FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND HELPS THEM ENHANCE THEIR INTERACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS, ENVIRONMENT AND MATERIALS, DAILY PROGRAMMING, SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, AND BUSINESS PRACTICES THROUGH THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS. SATELLITE SERVICES INCLUDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT GROUPS, CONSULTATION, REFERRALS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS. SATELLITE ALSO PROVIDES SUBSTITUTE CARE IN PROVIDERS' HOMES AND LOANS TOYS AND EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDERS INCLUDING CRIBS, STROLLERS, TOYS AND MATERIALS. SATELLITE HAS A NETWORK OF ABOUT 110 HIGH QUALITY FCC PROVIDERS THAT CARE FOR OVER 600 CHILDREN FROM A VARIETY OF SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES AND LOCATIONS. SATELLITE SERVICES AND TRAININGS ARE OFFERED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
  3. $1.1 million spent. CORPORATE INITIATIVES
  4. $816,632 spent. CHILD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
  5. $372,759 spent. FOOD PROGRAMS:THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES AID TO CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO WELLNESS, HEALTHY GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

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 October 1982.

    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.