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Playing Field Inc

EIN 47-4112110 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PLAYING FIELD IS DEDICATED TO BREAKING THE BARRIERS FACED BY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN ACCESSING HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-17.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
64
Volunteers
61
Highest pay
$120,428, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $2.4 million spent. EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE SERVICES - PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE PROVIDING EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM VARYING SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS.DURING THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR, THE PLAYING FIELD WAS ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT TUITION SUBSIDIES OR PROVIDE NO COST CHILD CARE FOR 34 CHILDREN, ENSURING THAT THE TRUE COST OF CHILD CARE WAS NOT UNREACHABLE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. THIS SUPPORT ENSURED THAT FAMILIES HAD AVAILABLE, SAFE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE ENABLING PARENTS TO OBTAIN FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE THROUGH EMPLOYMENT. ADDITIONALLY, FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WAS ALSO PROVIDED. THE FAMILY EMERGENCY DESIGNATED FUNDS SUPPORTED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF NEED BY PROVIDING RENT PAYMENTS, EMERGENCY HOUSING, CAR REPAIRS, TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES, GROCERIES, AND BABY SUPPLIES. ADDITIONALLY, SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WERE USED TO SUPPORT 7 CHILDREN TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF CARE AS THEY TRANSITIONED INTO PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED CARE FOR A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF CHILDREN, THE PLAYING FIELD ALSO INVESTED IN EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS. THIS INVESTMENT ENSURES THAT ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 July 2015.

    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.