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Catalyst for Change Inc

EIN 84-3428678 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING QUALITY COMPASSIONATE SERVICES THAT PROMOTE THE UPLIFTMENT AND HUMANITY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
28
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$159,100, psychiatrist

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 (7)
  1. $1.2 million spent. COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES: CATALYST FOR CHANGE INC. (CFC) RENEWED ITS CONTRACT WITH DANE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM. THE INTENT OF THESE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS IS TO PROVIDE FOR A MAXIMUM REDUCTION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND THE RESTORATION OF A CLIENT TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF FUNCTIONING AND TO FACILITATE HIS/HER RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SERVICES SUCH AS PHYSICAL HEALTH MONITORING, INDIVIDUAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT, EMPLOYMENT-RELATED SKILL TRAINING, INDIVIDUAL AND/OR FAMILY PSYCHOEDUCATION AND WELLNESS MANAGEMENT, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM CFC CAN PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT ARE VITAL TO A PERSON'S LONG-TERM SUCCESS. CFC ASSISTED 77 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS AND 11 WERE HOUSED.
  2. $393,580 spent. HOMELESS OUTREACH: IN 2024, CATALYST FOR CHANGE INC RENEWED ITS CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY OF DANE TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND MEDIATION SERVICES TO HOUSEHOLDS/INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN THE DANE COUNTY AREA. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO CONNECT HOUSEHOLDS/INDIVIDUALS TO BASIC NEEDS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES (HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT, MEDICAL SERVICES, ETC.) THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ADDRESS SITUATIONS THAT COULD PROMPT POLICE INTERVENTION IN THE DANE COUNTY AREA. CFC PROVIDES WEEKDAY OUTREACH BOTH DURING THE DAY AND IN THE EVENING. CFC FACILITATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY, BUSINESS OWNERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IN 2024 CFC ENGAGED 205 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS. 106 ADULTS AND 99 CHILDREN WERE CONNECTED TO SERVICES, AND 9 WERE HOUSED.
  3. $328,200 spent. STREET MEDIATION: CATALYST FOR CHANGE INC. CONTINUED ITS CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF MADISON TO PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH/MEDIATION IN THE CITY OF MADISON. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS TO PERMANENT HOUSING, SHELTER, AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WILL LEAD TO HOUSING AND THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AS HUMAN BEINGS. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ADDRESS SITUATIONS THAT COULD PROMPT POLICE INTERVENTION IN THE CITY. CFC PROVIDES WEEKDAY OUTREACH BOTH DURING THE DAY AND IN THE EVENING. CFC FACILITATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY, BUSINESS OWNERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IN 2024 CFC ENGAGED 432 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS, THERE WERE 304 ADULT, AND 128 CHILDREN CONNECTED TO SERVICES, AND 64 WERE HOUSED.
  4. $137,960 spent. RECOVERY VOUCHER
  5. $68,325 spent. COLD WEATHER NIGHTS
  6. $64,854 spent. SEASONAL OVERFLOW FAMILY SHELTER
  7. $139,482 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

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 January 2020.

    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.