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Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund Inc

EIN 39-1520619 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CITIZEN ACTION OF WISCONSIN EDUCATION FUND IS AN ISSUE-FOCUSEDGRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING SOCIAL, RACIAL,ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND WORKS ON DEVELOPING A MOREINFORMED, ENGAGED AND EMPOWERED PUBLIC.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
29.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$121,154, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 106% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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. $910,928 spent. PROGRAMS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING SOCIAL, RACIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND WORKS ON DEVELOPING A MORE INFORMED AND EMPOWERED PUBLIC.
  2. HEALTHCARE FOR ALL CAMPAIGN. ON-GOING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GRASSROOTSORGANIZING CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON STRUCTURAL HEALTH CARE REFORM AT THESTATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. THE CAMPAIGN WORKS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC INSUPPORT OF FUNDAMENTAL REFORM OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM TO SIGNIFICANTLYINCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE, REDUCE HEALTH CARE PRICES,ELIMINATE INEQUALITY IN HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY RACIAL INEQUALITY,REGULATE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY ABUSES, AND ENSURE THAT CONSUMERSHAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE DECISIONS. THE CAMPAIGN ALSOTRACKS MAJOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE REFORM, ANDPRODUCES PERIODIC RESEARCH REPORTS RELATED TO WISCONSIN HEALTH CARECOST, QUALITY, EQUITY AND ACCESS.
  3. CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY CAMPAIGN-THE ISSUE EDUCATION CAMPAIGNCOMBINES THREE KEY PRIORITIES IN THE ORGANIZATION"S MISSION: ECONOMIC ,ENVIRONMENTAL, AND RACIAL JUSTICE. THE VISION OF THE CAMPAIGN IS A MASSIVE ECONOMIC CONVERSION WHICH BOTH EVERTS A CLIMATE WARMING INDUCED GENOCIDE AND REBUILDS THE ECONOMIC THAT DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES EQUITY AND ERRADICATES RACIAL INEQUALITY. THIS INCLUDES LOCAL CAMPAIGNS IN MILWAUKEE AND IN THE SMALL METRO AREAS AND RURAL REGIONS AROUND THESTATE TO BUILD AND IMPLEMENT CLIMATE ACTION PLANS WITH ROBUST EQUITYCOMPONENTS, ENCOURAGING MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN CONSERVATION ANDRENEWABLE ENERGY AT THE GOVERNMENTAL AND INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, ANDCONVERTING OUR INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE SYSTEM INTO A CLIMATESUSTAINABLE AND LOCAL ENTERPRISE TO MEET REGIONAL FOOD NEEDS. IT ALSOINCLUDES A UNIFIED FOCUS ON CHANGES IN STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY ANDMASSIVE NEW PUBLIC INVESTMENTS ALONG THE LINES OF A GREEN NEW DEAL.
  4. DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN-THE CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON PROTECTING AND EXPANDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE, ON CREATING OPEN AND DEMOCRATIC STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC, AND ON CLEANSING GOVERNMENT FROM SPECIAL INTEREST CORRUPTION. THE CAMPAIGN ALSO EDUCATES LOWER VOTER TURNOUT CONSTITUENCIES ON HOW TO NAVIGATE NEW ELECTION ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF SUCH CHANGES ON DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION.
  5. VALUES BASED COMMUNICATION-CITIZEN ACTION EDUCATION FUND WORKS TO DEVELOP MORE COMPELLING VALUES-BASED MESSAGES, AND TO TRAIN ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS TO DELIVER MORE COMPELLING MESSAGES THAT ADVANCE PROGRESSIVE VALUES. THIS INCLUDES STORIES PROJECT IS AN INTENSIVE EFFORT TO TRAIN AVERAGE CITIZENS TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES AND TO DEVELOP THEIR ADVOCACY SKILLS. THE ORGANIZATION COMBINES TRADITIONAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING WITH CUTTING EDGE EARNED MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA, WEB-BASED, AND NEW MEDIA STRATEGIES TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION OR CORE PROGRESSIVE VALUES.
  6. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT-DURING ELECTIONS AND BETWEEN ELECTIONS CITIZEN ACTION OF WISCONSIN EDUCATION FUND WORKS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AND TO ENGAGE THEM IN OUR DEMOCRACY. OUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WORK SEEKS TO CONNECT THE ISSUES WE WORK ON WITH CIVIC PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING VOTING AND OTHER FORMS OF DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1984.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.