Balance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Balance is dedicated to improving life quality and building community capacity for full inclusion and empowerment of adults and children with IDD, while acting as prudent stewards of resources
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 125
- Volunteers
- 46
- Highest pay
- $104,443, ceo partial yr
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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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 (5)
- $1.9 million spent. Adult Family HomesBalance owns operates 8 Adult Family Homes AFHs throughout Ozaukee County. Between 2-4 adults with IDD live collaboratively in each home where the goal is to balance support and independence. Balance provides a safe, emotionally stable, homey/family-like environment. We collaborate with each person and their support network to create an individual support plan, which outlines assistance and personal goals that promote being a valued, contributing member of their community. Each person is encouraged to grow daily and actively engage in every aspect of home lifeincluding meals, care of their home and self, recreation/leisure, personal goals and personal advocacy. In 2024 2 additional people moved into Balances homes. We received rate increases which aligned with the WI DHS minimum fee schedule for services.
- $838,741 spent. Adult Day ProgramBalance offers facility-based adult day services for adults with IDD. The facility space is used to convene at the beginning and end of each day while the majority of our program occurs through active engagement in the surrounding community. Participants in the Adult Day Program are supported by team members either individually, as a group of 2, or larger groups of 4-5 people. The philosophy at Balance is to maximize engagement in community life, which is accomplished through daily social and civic interactions that enrich health, creativity, new experiences, socialization, community inclusion, and volunteer opportunities for community contribution.
- $142,464 spent. Childrens Programs Balances social skills program for children developed as an organic response to the resounding need for more community based, supportive opportunities for children with IDD. Beginning in January of 209 as a once-a-week session for children aged 5-17, the program now offers 14-week sessions each Spring and Fall, with Tuesdays focuesd on children aged 5-12 and Thursdays focused on children aged 12-17, and a Summer Rec program for children aged 5-15. In alignment with Balances mission and vision, these programs strive to provide support and opportunities for personal growth, social connection, and new hands-on experiences. Children are supported either indivdually or in groups of 2 for uniquely tailored experiences. Staff in this program are Balance staff as well as volunteer community mentors, which provides a unique mentorship experience. The social skills program features a variety of social development activities as well as activities with community partners who are skilled in the arts, sciences and animal encounters. The Balance childrens summer recreation program offers a summer camp experience for children with disabilities between the ages of five and fifteen. Children in this program have the opportunity to explore and adventure at local and neighboring community recreation sites while connecting with peers, volunteer mentors and staff. The program currently offers two different three week sessions, accomodating approximately 48 kids. This program runs the from the third week of June through the first week of August. Activities include swimming, visiting museums, zoos, nature parks and preserves, water parks, picnics and more. This program is offered to children with developmental disabilities throughout Ozaukee county and is currently funded through the Ozaukee department of human services.
- Program Service Expenses 23,245, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 40,599 Supportive Living Program
- Other Program Services Supported Living - Balance has been supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in Ozaukee county since 1991. One of the many programs Balance runs is Supported Living, a flexible partnership that enables a person needing support to live in their own home with individualized assistance from Balance. Many individuals with developmental disabilities wish to live in their own homes or apartments in the community and do not require assistance around the clock. Community Supportive Living enables people to live in their own home, not a place that belongs to an agency. Home is at the center of our lives. It is home base for our relationships with friends and family. We choose who we live with, who we invite into our home, how we create our place with our own particular mix of decorations, colors, pictures and cherised items.
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
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 December 2024.
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 February 1995.
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.