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Porchlight Inc

EIN 39-1579521 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PORCHLIGHT, INC. STRIVES TO DECREASE THE HOMELESS POPULATION BY PROVIDING SHELTER, HOUSING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT EMPOWER RESIDENTS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO POSITIVELY SHAPE THEIR LIVES. PORCHLIGHT, INC. PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER, FOOD, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, COUNSELING, AND AFFORDABLE TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING TO HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE DANE COUNTY AREA. OUR SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER INDEPENDENCE AND THE TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT.PORCHLIGHT IS THE LARGEST SUPPLIER OF LOW-COST HOUSING IN DANE COUNTY AND IS COMPRISED OF AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR MEN, HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR MEN AND WOMEN SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES, VETERANS, ADULTS IN RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUG ADDICTIONS, AND LOW-INCOME WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN WITH OVER 100,000 NIGHTS OF SHELTER.A HELPING HAND, NOT A HAND OUT. A SECOND CHANCE. A WARM BED. HOPE. OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$9.1 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
123
Volunteers
600
Highest pay
$154,162, 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $3.7 million spent. HOUSING -PORCHLIGHT OFFERS OVER 350 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 26 MADISON-AREA LOCATIONS TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ON A TRANSITIONAL OR PERMANENT BASIS, THROUGH AN ARRAY OF HOUSING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC CLIENT NEEDS. PORCHLIGHT PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH BUDGETING, APARTMENT MAINTENANCE, AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING SKILLS. THROUGH PORCHLIGHT HOUSING, RESIDENTS MAY ESTABLISH HOUSING AND CREDIT REFERENCES CRITICAL TO OBTAINING FUTURE HOUSING. PORCHLIGHT HOUSING AS A WHOLE SERVED 464 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN IN 2024.
  2. $2.7 million spent. MEN'S DROP-IN SHELTER -PORCHLIGHT PROVIDES TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SHELTER TO SINGLE MEN AT ITS OVERNIGHT DROP-IN SHELTER. GUESTS RECEIVE TWO MEALS PER DAY, PERSONAL HYGIENE SUPPLIES, AND SUPPORT SERVICES. IN 2024, WE SERVED 1,750 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS, FOR A TOTAL OF 102,107 NIGHTS OF SHELTER.
  3. $935,010 spent. BROOKS STREET-THE BROOKS STREET SRO PROGRAM PROVIDES 102 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR SINGLE ADULTS. BROOKS STREET HOUSED 110 INDIVIDUALS IN 2024.
  4. $604,142 spent. SAFE HAVEN -SAFE HAVEN IS A DAY SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, LOCATED ON MADISON'S EAST SIDE. ELIGIBLE GUESTS MAY ACCESS DROP-IN SERVICES SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK, INCLUDING MEALS, LAUNDRY, SHOWERS, AND CASE MANAGEMENT. STAFF PROVIDES CRISIS STABILIZATION SERVICES TO GUESTS WHO PRESENT IN ACUTE CRISIS, AND CONNECTS GUESTS WITH RECOVERY GOALS TO THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES (CCS) PROGRAM. SHELTER GUESTS ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR SAFE HAVEN'S 14 ON-SITE PERMANENT HOUSING UNITS. SAFE HAVEN SERVED 748 SHELTER GUESTS IN 2024.
  5. VTHP - THE VETERANS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM (VTHP) IS A COLLABORATIVE ENDEAVOR BETWEEN PORCHLIGHT AND THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION GRANT AND PER DIEM (GPD) PROGRAM. IT IS A 24-BED, SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM FOR SINGLE MEN WHO ARE MILITARY VETERANS AND ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. A CASE MANAGER, PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST, AND A VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SOCIAL WORKER ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH MONEY MANAGEMENT, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE RECOVERY SUPPORT, REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES/SUPPORT SYSTEMS, LEGAL SUPPORT, MEDICAL CARE, AND COUNSELING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF CARE WHILE PREPARING THE VETERANS TO TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. VTHP SERVED 49 VETERANS IN 2024.
  6. PORCHLIGHT PRODUCTS - PARTICIPANTS IN THE PORCHLIGHT PRODUCTS PROGRAM CREATE HANDMADE PRODUCTS SUCH AS JAMS, JELLIES, SAUCES, AND DRY MIXES THAT ARE SOLD IN LOCAL STORES AND RESTAURANTS. MORE THAN 75 PERCENT OF ALL INGREDIENTS COME FROM LOCAL FARMS USING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL METHODS. IN THIS PROGRAM, INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL AND/OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES RECEIVE JOB AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING IN A SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. PARTICIPANTS TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE WORK THEY DO AND THE FINAL PRODUCT ON STORE SHELVES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY. IN 2024, 10 TRAINING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN THE NEW PORCHLIGHT PRODUCTS KITCHEN LOCATED AT 1704 THIERER ROAD.

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 September 1987.

    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.