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Simpson Street Free Press Inc

EIN 39-1882258 · Monona, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SIMPSON STREET FREE PRESS (SSFP) DELIVERS HIGH-IMPACT ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION DURING AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER HOURS. WE PUBLISH NEWSPAPERS. OUR WRITERS ARE KIDS. STUDENTS EXPLORE THE CORE SUBJECT AREAS, THEN THEY WRITE AND PUBLISH. OUR MISSION IS TO SPARK ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND BRIDGE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

Income
$446,895
Spending
$438,629
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
6
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$82,414, 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $338,866 spent. SIMPSON STREET FREE PRESS (SSFP) DELIVERS HIGH-IMPACT ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION DURING AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER HOURS. SSFP USES EXTENDED-DAY ACADEMICS TO BUILD PERMANENT COMMUNITY ASSETS. WE SUSTAIN IMPACT OVER TIME. OUR STUDENT-WRITTEN NEWSPAPER CONTENT FOCUSES ON THE CORE SUBJECT AREAS -- SCIENCE, HISTORY, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND BOOK REVIEWS. SSFP ENROLLS STUDENTS IN GRADES 2-12. STUDENT WRITERS LEARN THE ROPES, POLISH ACADEMIC SKILLS, AND GET PROMOTED UP THE NEWSROOM RANKS. OLDER, MORE EXPERIENCED STUDENTS ASSIST YOUNGER, LESS EXPERIENCED PEERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE MATH TUTORING AND OPERATE A NETWORK OF YOUTH BOOK CLUBS. SCHOOL GRADES, READING AND MATH SCORES, AND SCHOOL-DAY ATTENDANCE ARE MEASURED. STUDENT WORK IS PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED, WHICH INSPIRES YOUNG READERS ACROSS WISCONSIN.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.