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Center for Community Stewardship Inc

EIN 68-0501459 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. WE DO THIS THROUGH FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, COACHING, TRAINING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
57
Volunteers
380
Highest pay
$195,304, employee

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (33)
  1. $412,075 spent. ROCK COUNTY JUMPSTART HELD SEVERAL ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING COHORTS AND SUPPORTED AND COACHED ENTREPRENEURS IN ROCK COUNTY.
  2. $299,931 spent. HEALTHTIDE HELD NETWORK MEETINGS, HIRED A COMMUNICATIONS STAFFER, TRAINED LOCAL AND TRIBAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ON POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.
  3. $298,352 spent. NATURAL CIRCLES OF SUPPORT WORKED WITH DANE COUNTY SCHOOLS TO STRENGTHEN AND STABILIZE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE STUDENT BODY, BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND BETWEEN FAMILIES AND THE SCHOOL.
  4. $20,231 spent. BACK 2 BASICS HELD A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION AT PINSEEKERS.
  5. $89,485 spent. CORE DISTRIBUTED FUNDS TO PROGRAMS SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE WELLBEING, AS WELL AS COACHING AND ADVISING SERVICES, AND HELD 3 CIRCLE EVENTS.
  6. $154,415 spent. EDOT MIDWEST HOSTED GOLDYE STEINER PROJECT GRAVE MARKER FUNDRAISING AND COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS, COLLABORATED WITH UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORTED JEWISH SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
  7. $120,878 spent. EOTO CULTURALLY ROOTED CONTINUED SUPPORTING BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES AND ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS AND YOUTH THROUGH THE BYAYA! PROGRAM.
  8. $14,614 spent. HOMELESS SERVICES CONSORTIUM HAD THEIR FIRST HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS SUMMIT WITH OVER 100 ATTENDEES.
  9. $81,739 spent. I AM WE GLOBAL VILLAGE FOCUSED ON PARTNERING WITH THE MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH THEIR METRO SCHOOL, PLANNING AND DELIVERING LESSONS AS WELL AS COACHING AND ADVISING TEACHERS AND MENTORING YOUTH.
  10. $35,099 spent. JUST MINDFULNESS CONTINUED TO OFFER MINDFULNESS IN PRISONS INCLUDING SEVERAL COURSES AND SESSIONS THROUGHOUT PRISON FACILITIES.
  11. $100,736 spent. DANE COUNTY YOUTH ACTION BOARD SUPPORTED THE OPENING OF DANE COUNTY'S FIRST SYSTEM NAVIGATION CENTER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SUPPORTED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO BRAND NEW HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
  12. $146,251 spent. MADISON COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT COALITION CONTINUED TO SUPPORT NEW COOPERATIVES AND PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION ON WORKER COOPERATIVES, INCLUDING PARTNERING WITH THE MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO DELIVER WORKSHOPS.
  13. $66,963 spent. MANN SCHOLARS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT 12 STUDENT SCHOLARS ACROSS MADISON SCHOOLS TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.
  14. $84,081 spent. MI WISCONSIN CONTINUED TO RECEIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT MINORITY JOURNALISM AND CREATED THE FIRST SYNDICATED CONTENT IN SPANISH TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY WITH THEIR DAILY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
  15. $15,723 spent. OPEN FOUNDATION HELD THEIR FIRST ANNUAL CAREER FAIR WHERE ALMOST 100 JOB SEEKERS WERE ASSISTED WITH RESUMES, INTERVIEWS, AND NETWORKING, AN ANNUAL DINNER TO CELEBRATE PROFESSIONAL PROGRESS AND HIGHLIGHT COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS, AND OVER 30 EVENTS FOR NETWORKING PROFESSIONALS.
  16. $201,558 spent. PROGRESS CENTER FOR BLACK WOMEN WORKED WITH ENTREPRENEURS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL HEALTH, AND ALSO WORKED WITH NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP THEM ACCESS EMERGENCY HOUSING AND ASSISTANCE.
  17. $12,839 spent. RESTORATIVE PLACES PARTNERED WITH ROOTED TO STRENGTHEN SCHOOL GARDEN PARTNERSHIPS IN WISCONSIN. THEY ALSO WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS IN WISCONSIN ON AN INNOVATIVE EARLY CARE & EDUCATION (ECE) GARDENING & OUTDOOR LEARNING VIDEO SERIES.
  18. $46,121 spent. SEEIN' IS BELIEVIN' SUCCESSFULLY HOSTED 4 YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH RETREATS AND EXPANDED VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMMING
  19. $29,815 spent. STOUGHTON RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 20 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FROM VENEZUELA AND UKRAINE. AND COULD BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY STABLE.
  20. $77,719 spent. THE INSTITUTE FOR COLLECTIVE WELLBEING LAUNCHED THEIR DISCOVERING ORGANIZATIONAL WELLBEING PROGRAM, ROLLED OUT THEIR UNCONDITIONAL ACCOMPANIMENT PROGRAM, AND WORKED WITH TEN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
  21. $245,107 spent. TIYUV GRADUATED THREE NATIONAL JOC COHORTS, DEVELOPED A ROBUST ETZ CHAIM CRE MODEL, AND LAUNCHED NEW CURRICULUM OFFERINGS LIKE ROOTED AND RESPONSIVE.
  22. $27,938 spent. WHOOPENSOCKER HELD NUMEROUS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH ITS PROGRAMMING.
  23. $35,825 spent. WISCONSIN ECOLATINOS CARRIED OUT OUTREACH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON PFAS AND PLASTIC POLLUTION, AIR QUALITY, CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUPPORT AS WELL AS PROMOTED PLANTING TREES.
  24. $276,029 spent. WISCONSIN GREEN MUSLIMS HELD THE 19TH WISCONSIN GREEN RAMADAN CAMPAIGN, AND EDUCATED ABOUT ISLAMIC ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES AS THEY RELATE TO CLIMATE, WATER, FOOD, ENERGY, AIR, WASTE REDUCTION, AND TRANSPORTATION.
  25. $71,866 spent. YAFA CONTINUED TO PROVIDE YOGA CLASSES AT NUMEROUS COMMUNITY CENTERS AND TO THE STAFF AT JUST BAKERY.
  26. $91,466 spent. THE BADGER PROJECT PUBLISHED 79 STORIES AND WON AN AWARD FROM THE MILWAUKEE PRESS CLUB IN THEIR JOURNALISM COMPETITION.
  27. $193,717 spent. IN 2024, THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY STREWARDSHIP PROVIDED ACCOUNTING, CAPACITY BUILDING, BUDGETING, AND HR SERVICES TO OVER 70 DIFFERENT FISCALLY SPONSORED ORGANIZATIONS.
  28. $101,971 spent. OPEN DOORS FOR REFUGEES HELD THEIR ANNUAL PICNIC, DID ESL MENTORING, AND ORCHESTRATED SEVERAL MOVES, MOVE-INS, AND RIDES. THEY DID WORKFORCE TRAINING AND GAVE FOOD CARDS TO DOZENS OF FAMILIES.
  29. $255,414 spent. ALLIANCE FOR THE 7TH GENERATION HOSTED OUR HIPHOP AS HEALING FESTIVAL FOR ABOUT 1200 PEOPLE, TALKS AT UNIVERSITIES, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS REACHING ABOUT ANOTHER 400 PEOPLE.
  30. $84,929 spent. THE TINY SANGHA PROJECT DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF ITS ONLINE SMALL GROUPS. THEY ALSO HIRED TWO NEW SMALL GROUP FACILITATORS.
  31. $74,000 spent. ANESIS PROVIDED FREE DROP IN HEALTH CLINICS ACROSS THE MADISON REGION AND WELL AS CRISIS RESPONSE COUNSELLING.
  32. $34,738 spent. MIDWEST MUJERES HELD THEIR ANNUAL EVENT IN WHICH THEY WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT SIX WOMEN OF COLOR AND THEIR STORIES OF SURVIVING THE GENDER WAGE GAP. THEY WERE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO WHERE A FEW OF THEIR MEMBERS AND STORIES WERE BROADCAST.
  33. $32,640 spent. UNITED MADISON CONTINUED TO BUILD AWARENESS ON THE PRESENCE OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN OUR COMMUNITY WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, GROUP MEETINGS AND TRAINING SESSIONS, AND COLLABORATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 December 2002.

    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.

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