City Forward Collective Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CFC'S MISSION IS TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF MILWAUKEE AND ITS INSTITUTIONS, ECONOMY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE BY ENDING EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY AND ENSURING EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOL.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 24.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $217,348, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 126% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 (4)
- $497,933 spent. ECOSYSEM TRANSFORMATION (FORMERLY HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS) - STRATEGICALLY INVEST AND CHANNEL PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS TO EXPAND EXISTING HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS, INCUBATE NEW SCHOOLS, AND IMPROVE PROMISING SCHOOLS. IN 2021 THIS ALSO INCLUDED PROVIDING GRANTS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS TO ASSIST WITH COVID-19 RESPONSE.
- $1.0 million spent. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION (FORMERLY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND COMMUNITY - INFORMED POLICY) - FACILITATE SUSTAINED FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO BUILD A MOVEMENT OF MILWAUKEE PARENTS AND OTHER RESIDENTS WHO UNDERSTAND AND ADVOCATE FOR QUALITY SCHOOLS ACROSS MILWAUKEE. ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL AND STATE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ELIMINATE EDUCATIONAL INEQUITIES AND ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS THRIVE; MOBILIZE "GRASSROOT" COMMUNITIES AND CREATE COALITIONS WITH "GRASSTOP" LEADERS TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE CHANGE.
- $369,352 spent. POLICY AND ADVOCACY - THIS PROGRAM WORKS FOR FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE MISSION BY ADVANCING PUBLIC POLICIES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
- $369,122 spent. POLICY AND DATA - TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INSIGHTFUL AND INCISIVE POLICY AND DATA ANALYSIS BY PUBLISHING REGULAR POLICY BELIEFS, ANNUAL STATE OF MILWAUKEE EDUCATION REPORTS, AND OTHER ANALYSIS; AND PROVIDING ONLINE DATA TOOLS FOR FAMILIES TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL.
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 September 1987.
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.
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.