Headwaters Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HEADWATERS, INC. is a non-profit community-based services agency with over 50 years of experience providing services for people with disabilities throughout northern Wisconsin. We support people to have a meaningful life by working and contributing to their communities. Our services include Community Based Day Services, Prevocational Training, Community Employment Services, Residential Community Supported Living, Educational Supports, and Transition Services. Catholic Charities Bureau Affiliates are organized to maintain, operate and conduct; directly or indirectly; as well as to assist and coordinate activities and Social Services in accordance with the charitable Works and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Works are carried out in accordance with Catholic Social teachings.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 87%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 5
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $793,746 spent. Headwaters, Inc.'s Adult Programs and Transportation include our Day/Work Services programming in our Rhinelander location. Community Based Day Services support people in a wide range of meaningful opportunities to address individual needs, goals, and interests. Community Based Day Services are designed to maximize a person's ability to manage everyday life activities in their community. Through this program, individuals grow to become more active members of their communities and gain skills to achieve their fullest potential. Work Services provides training in soft skills and other work skills that lead to successful employment in our work area and in the community. Work Services are designed to maximize a person's ability to gain skills for productivity. Work services provide a variety of jobs in our production area that help individuals develop necessary skills for employment. All participants in the Work Services program participated in WIOA Career Counseling (Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act) this counseling provides career services for adults and dislocated workers.
- $431,890 spent. Residential/Supported Living Services are designed to maximize a person's ability to manage everyday life skills in their homes and within their communities. People seek out our services for a wide variety of reasons. Through this program, individuals grow to have more meaningful lives outside of their employment and day support. These services can include interpersonal skills, safety skills, travel training, personal hygiene and health skills, daily living skills coaching, and community connections. Headwaters' supports range from 24/7 assistance, daily rates, to weekly drop in services. Our Residential Services include housing counseling services to assist participants in finding affordable long-term housing.
- $358,793 spent. Headwaters, Inc.'s Enterprise programs include our summer lawncare services (Lawn care services for the Rest Area Maintenance Program, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and the Department of Natural Resources), enclaves the production area and Community Employment. With the summer maintenance program participants acquire new skills and cleaning techniques at different rest areas. The lawn care service contracts for 4 community apartment complexes managed by Catholic Charities. Individuals cleaned weekly at the National Guard Armory and worked on cleaning and building/lawn maintenance at 6 waysides in Forest, Vilas, and Oneida counties. In addition, Headwaters, Inc. work service program also maintained 2 boat landings, 6 Wisconsin Valley Improvement sites in Lincoln County, and maintains lawncare at Wisconsin Department of Transportation and their sign shop. In the winter months participants work on our contract with the UW agricultural department, cleaning 44,000 green pots and 3,600 trays in preparation for planting potatoes in the spring. The Community Employment department supports individuals in seeking and maintaining employment through job development and customized employment, job coaching and employment support, accommodation determination and advocacy support that is provided in 20 cities/towns in an area of over 2,100 square miles.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 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 March 1946.
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.