Women's Information Service (Wise) of the Upper Valley Inc

Overview

Mission

Wise is the primary provider of support services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking in twenty-three communities in the northern new england counties of grafton (nh), windsor (vt), and orange (vt).

What it reported doing in 2024

The wise crisis and advocacy program provides a free and confidential response to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. The program includes a 24-hour crisis line, safety planning resources, emergency shelter options, housing and legal assistance, court and law enforcement advocacy, hospital accompaniment and support groups. During the year ended june 30, 2025, wise provided advocacy support to 1,341 victims.wise offers comprehensive housing support to the many survivors of domestic and sexual violence seeking safe and stable housing. Wise owns and manages two confidential emergency shelter facilities, which are available to survivors and their children who have emergency need of housing. When space is not available in the shelter, wise will provide short-term stays at local motels to ensure immediate safety for survivors. Wise advocates also support survivors with community referrals, application support, landlord meetings, and other resources in order to assist in the location of affordable, safe, and permanent housing.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
020346512
IRS 990 coverage
2016–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone
6034485922
Rating
89
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Victims' Services

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 83
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 58
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 86.1%; rating input score 86
  • Program expense ratio: 90.4%; rating input score 90
  • Fundraising efficiency: $14.46 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 6.4%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.87; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 10.8%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 10.5% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 11.6% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 86.1% of revenue deployed · 90.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 13 of 13 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $1.9M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $140K · 15 people listed
  • Consistency: 31 of 31 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 9 annual filings from 2016 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Leadership & pay

15 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • MARGARET O'NEIL (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $139,962 total reported compensation
  • SUZANNE KELLY (FINANCE DIRECTOR): $91,519 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.