Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin Inc
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 391053827
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2010–2024
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024
- Location
- Madison, WI, USA
- Phone
- 7158928422
- Rating
- 91
- Verdict
- STRONG
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $8,396,263
- Expenses
- $7,900,665
- Assets
- $5,043,338
- Liabilities
- $1,350,373
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
19 people listed
Executive titles in this filing
- SAMANTHA WENDT (PRESIDENT)
- CHARA TAYLOR-HENNING (VICE PRESIDENT)
- MEGHAN MIETCHEN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
Highest reported compensation
- MEGHAN MIETCHEN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $125,760 total reported compensation
- TIM PRODELL (FINANCE DIRECTOR): $115,636 total reported compensation
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
At community action coalition for south central Wisconsin, inc. (cac) our mission is to transform our communities by fostering conditions where everyone can achieve social and economic security. Cac exists to push back on poverty. Our organization was born out of the war on poverty, and that purpose motivates us to this day. But while we've been around for five decades, we're committed to evolving the way we work to help people live better lives. It's time for a new approach to housing security, food security and essential resources. We champion flexibility rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution. By working with our strong network, we identify specific needs within each of our three communities, and carry out a plan to generate the greatest impact. When we transform together, we create lasting change.
What it reported doing in 2024
Housing security programs: in 2024, cac delivered comprehensive housing solutions across three counties, supporting individuals and families to secure safe and stable housing. Core services included rental and utility assistance, homelessness prevention, housing placement and navigation, rapid re-housing, transitional housing, innovative supportive housing, emergency shelter support, reducing school mobility, supporting early childhood zones, serving veterans and families, and case management. Additional specialized programs focused on providing tailored support for households needing recovery vouchers, workforce innovation and independent living support, and/or services to reduce barriers to employment and advancement. Cac also worked in close partnership with other social service agencies to provide wraparound supports and coalition building. Grounded in a housing first approach and a strong network of collaborative services, cac assisted 1611 households with housing and related needs in 2024, while also engaging with 67 coordinated entry coalition members.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
- Distribution model
- Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 45% for direct work, and 55% for grants.
- Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.
The verdict
STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown and expenses are high relative to revenue.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 88
- Transparency & Controls: 94
- Accountability: 100
- Sustainability: 44
- Growth: 100
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 87.1%; rating input score 87
- Program expense ratio: 92.3%; rating input score 92
- Fundraising efficiency: $87.46 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 85; 85th 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
- 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: 5.9%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.64; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.27; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 3.1%; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: 16% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 12.7% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 12.7% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- Where the money goes: 87.1% of revenue deployed · 92.3% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 15 of 15 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
- Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $7.3M in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $126K · 19 people listed
- Consistency: 36 of 36 current checks pass
- Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
- Filing history: 14 filing years from 2010 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.
Key Signals
Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.
- High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 23/100.
- Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 53/100.
- Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 37/100.