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Forward Careers Inc

EIN 39-1657328 · Waukesha, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FORWARD CAREERS, INC. (FORWARD CAREERS) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF ADMINISTERING AND IMPLEMENTING JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN. OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP A THRIVING WORKFORCE AND STRONG ECONOMY BY BEING THE PREFERRED SOURCE FOR CAREER EXPLORATION, EDUCATION AND SKILLS TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT CONNECTIONS TO EVERY PERSON AND BUSINESS.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
31
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$142,993, president & ceo

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 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)
  1. $642,358 spent. ADMINISTERING THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) PROGRAM. THE WIOA ADULT, DISLOCATED WORKER, YOUTH AND RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP JOB SEEKERS ACCESS EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SUCCEED IN THE LABOR MARKET AND TO MATCH EMPLOYERS WITH THE SKILLS WORKERS THEY NEED TO COMPLETE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. THE ADULT PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 87 CLIENTS, THE DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 46 CLIENTS, AND THE YOUTH PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 73 CLIENTS WITH CAREER PLANNING, BASIC SKILLS TRAINING, JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE, JOB SEARCH SKILLS, AND IN-DEMAND EMPLOYER-LINKED TRAINING. THE RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO GROUPS OF WORKERS FACING LAYOFFS OR THEIR COMPANY IS HAVING A LARGE DOWNSIZING OF THEIR WORKFORCE OR COMPLETE CLOSER.
  2. $491,653 spent. THE NEXT (NURSING. EQUITY. EXPANSION. TRAINING.) PROGRAM TACKLES THE NEED FOR MORE NURSES AND OTHER HEALTHCARE RELATED OCCUPATIONS THROUGH A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH OF OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCES, AND INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING. THIS IS A MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM, AND HAS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 94 CLIENTS DURING THE PROGRAM.
  3. $345,044 spent. THE QUEST GRANT FOCUSES ON TRAINING INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THE ACCESSIBILITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. FORWARD CAREERS PROVIDES OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCES, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, AND SUPPORTS TO ENRICH THE SUPPLY OF PROFICIENT CHILDCARE WORKERS. THIS IS A MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM, AND HAS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 64 CLIENTS DURING THE PROGRAM.
  4. $550,874 spent. PROVIDING VARIOUS JOB PLACEMENT, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, JOB FAIRS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PROGRAM SERVICES.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 1990.

    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.