Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE MEALS AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES OR PROGRAMS TO THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO HUNGRY OR WITHOUT.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 1,500
- Highest pay
- $98,700, executive dir.
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: 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 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 (1)
- $1.2 million spent. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE GATHERING OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN CONTINUED TO EXPAND BOTH ITS REACH AND ITS IMPACT, SERVING 93,000 MEALS TO NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ACROSS MULTIPLE MILWAUKEE COUNTY LOCATIONS. OPERATING FOUR CORE MEAL SITES AND ADDITIONAL PARTNER DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS, THE GATHERING PROVIDES CONSISTENT ACCESS TO HOT, NUTRITIOUS MEALS IN SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENTS.THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS WAS POWERED BY A LARGE AND COMMITTED VOLUNTEER NETWORK, WITH WELL OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTING THEIR TIME IN MEAL PREPARATION, SERVICE, FOOD RESCUE, AND HOSPITALITY.THE ORGANIZATION SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED FOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS, RESCUING AND REDISTRIBUTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF DONATED FOOD FROM GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS, FARMS, CATERERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSREDUCING FOOD WASTE WHILE IMPROVING THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF MEALS.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE GATHERING CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY MEAL PARTNERSHIPS PREPARING AND DELIVERING MEALS TO THE BENEDICT CENTER, CATHEDRAL CENTER, FRANCISCAN PEACEMAKERS, RUNNING REBELS YOUTH, AND SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER. FINALLY, THE GATHERING SERVES AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY HUB WHERE GUESTS CAN CONNECT TO OUTSIDE SERVICES; OUTREACH WORKERS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS REGULARLY VISIT MEAL SITES TO OFFER HOUSING NAVIGATION, RECOVERY SUPPORT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AURORA'S MOBILE MEDICAL VAN, HARM REDUCTION RESOURCES, AND SAFETY RESOURCES.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.